Industrial Chemical Storage Solutions You Can Trust

In industry, a great deal of manufacturing is made from very few chemicals. Here are four of the most commonly produced and used chemicals. All of these chemicals are produced in excess of 100 million metric tons per year.

Poly Processing plays a big role in chemical use and manufacturing. We work with many industries, chemical suppliers, and manufacturers to make sure the tanks being used for their specific application are as safe as possible for personnel as well as the environment.

Learn about the four chemicals Poly Processing plays a role in storing for manufacturing industries:

1. Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)

Sulfuric acid tops the list as the number-one produced chemical worldwide. Sulfuric acid is used most often in the production of fertilizers. It’s also used in other products, including detergents, automobile batteries, dyes and pigments, and pharmaceuticals.

During manufacturing processes, sulfuric acid can be used:

• In the manufacture of rayon and nitroglycerine
• To remove impurities during petroleum refining
• To remove metallic oxides before electroplating and galvanizing metal
• To remove water during certain chemical reactions
• To prevent calcium-based scale formation on condenser and heat exchanger tube surfaces

Sulfuric acid is incredibly corrosive, making it a challenge for nearly any chemical tank to store safely. Your storage system should be able to effectively handle three critical factors: the acid’s corrosiveness, it’s weight, and its concentration.

Poly Processing’s innovative chemical storage solutions rise to all three challenges of sulfuric acid.

Our systems feature:

• OR-1000™ Antioxidant system that effectively resists corrosion
• Cross-linked polyethylene tanks manufactured to robust heavier chemicals
• SAFE-Tank® tank-within-a-tank secondary containment that features a small footprint compared to concrete and is a true double wall containment system

2. Phosphoric Acid (H3PO4)

About three-quarters of the phosphoric acid produced worldwide is used in the production of synthetic phosphate fertilizers. It’s also used in water treatment and as a food additive and a rust remover.

Phosphoric acid must be delivered at elevated temperatures to keep the chemicals from separating. Warmer temperatures cause storage tanks to expand, creating additional stress on the tank wall. Once chemicals begin to separate, sludge can form at the bottom of the storage tank.

Poly Processing’s Sloped-bottom IMFO®  tank system is a great choice to store Phosphoric acid  and provides a full-drain experience to ensure that sludge is emptied from the tank.

3. Ammonium Hydroxide (NH3OH)

Well over half of the ammonia produced worldwide is used in agriculture. It’s also used as a cleaning product. Ammonia is known to emit hazardous fumes that can harm the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Significant exposure can even cause blindness or death.

Ammonium hydroxide can’t be safely vented into the air. Poly Processing scrubbers work to filter out the harmful gases as the fumes are vented out of the storage tank. PolyScrub Basic™ is an ideal solution for customers looking for a cost-effective fume scrubber. It’s a manual scrubber that is engineered to remove harmful fumes from chemical storage tanks during operation and filling. PolyScrub Plus™ includes electronic components to monitor pH, automated alert system, LCD monitor, and a beacon light.

In either case, the PolyScrub™ system is a reliable solution when you’re storing ammonium hydroxide.

4. Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

When a strong base is required in industry, sodium hydroxide is the top choice. It has a wide variety of uses such as making paper, water treatment, medicine and is even used in food preparation. Sodium hydroxide can be found in many household items such as drain cleaner, detergents, and bath soaps. 

While the chemical is widely used, its corrosive properties present special storage and handling challenges. Your storage system should be designed to keep the temperature above 60 deg F, and you will need to use a secondary containment system.

Poly Processing’s rotationally molded cross-linked polyethylene tank is an ideal storage solution for sodium hydroxide. Because the tank is seamless, it’s nearly impossible for the chemical to find leak points. 

An IMFO Tank helps ensure long-term performance of the overall system because the flange is molded into the sidewall as an integral part of the tank. This further eliminates opportunities for leaks. 

Poly Processing also offers a heat maintenance and insulation system to maintain proper temperatures.

As with the storage of any chemical, it is important to consult with a chemical tank specialist to be sure your chemical storage tank is properly specified for your particular application.

To get started today, contact one of our chemical tank specialists.