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Maintaining the proper temperature of a chemical inside a SAFE-Tank® double wall tank is often critical to safe storage. For example, sodium hydroxide at a 50 percent concentration will start to crystallize at lower temperatures. For polyethylene chemical storage tanks, heating pads and insulation can maintain the specific temperature of the chemical you’re storing—even when your chemical tank is exposed to low air temperatures.

Winter is approaching fast. With below freezing temperatures and snowstorms affecting millions of people each year, municipalities need to be ready to clear roadways and maintain equipment. De-icing fluid is used to break down ice and frost on roadway surfaces and aircraft.

The substance used for de-icing depends on its application, the amount of snowfall, the municipality’s preferences, and winter temperatures. A variety of chemicals are used in the de-icing process, including brine, magnesium chloride, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol. Brine is the most popular of these chemicals, but it can damage vehicles or rebar on roadways.

It comes as no surprise that a new wastewater treatment plant can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Upgrading a plant can cost several million dollars as well. Yet, the chemical storage tanks that go into those plants are one of the least expensive items.

Peracetic acid is a bactericide and fungicide that is used in the food industry and wastewater management. It’s a potent chemical that must be treated with care and stored properly. Improper handling could be costly and result in personal injury.

Hydrofluorosilicic acid, or H₂SiF₆, is a challenging chemical because it has properties that pose a danger and specific storage concerns. With its common use in water treatment, it’s important that you’re aware of the risks of improperly storing this chemical.

You’ve done the hard part already. You’ve talked to a chemical tank expert at Poly Processing, designed your chemical tank system, double-checked that all the fittings you’ve ordered are compatible with your chemical, and you’re ready for your new storage tank system to be delivered.

Now that your order is placed and you’re preparing to receive your polyethylene chemical storage tank within five to seven weeks, there are some steps you need to have in place before your tank arrives. But what should you expect when your polyethylene tank arrives?

Barium is a chemical found at relatively low levels in nature, but if it seeps into the drinking water, it can cause a variety of potential health problems. Due to these significant health risks, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered all water treatment plants in areas with higher levels of barium to remove its contents from the water prior to releasing it to the public for consumption.

Poly Processing works diligently to produce each and every chemical storage tank to spec. But if a tank isn’t installed correctly it could lead to damage, leaks, safety issues for personnel, and a shorter tank life. Everyone should take chemical tank installation seriously.

Proper venting of polyethylene chemical storage tanks is vital for safe operation — it’s also critical for maximizing a polyethylene storage tank's effective lifecycle. 

Poly Processing's chemical storage tanks are designed to function at atmospheric pressure per ASTM-D 1998, the industry standard for producing vertical polyethylene tanks. During pneumatic offloading from a tanker truck, offloading pressures can exceed 30 psi, resulting in high ACFM rates.

When a chemical storage tank fails, the costs can be significant to your organization. Regulatory concerns, environmental cleanup, lawsuits from property damage, and injury to employees are costly exposures.

Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons chemical storage tanks fail.