The food and beverage industry has a long history of relying on stainless steel storage tanks due to the belief that the resins in a polyethylene storage tank allow leaching and bacterial growth with food dyes and other food products.

Sulfuric acid is one of the most widely used chemicals in the United States. More sulfuric acid is produced every year than any other chemical. It has a multitude of industry-specific uses, such as the production of other chemicals, dyes and pigments, water treatment and fertilizers.

This heavy, corrosive chemical requires a specifically designed storage system. That’s why Poly Processing follows guidelines that help ensure safety and enhanced useful tank life.

Liquid glues, or white glues, are water-based adhesives that are used in a wide variety of applications. They’re popular, because they are eco-friendly, non-toxic, easily recyclable, and safe to handle.

Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye or caustic soda, is used to neutralize the pH of water in a variety of applications. The chemical leaves no residual color, is a high-strength product, and is available at concentrations of two to 50 percent. Most of our customers use it in 25 to 50 percent concentrations.

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.

If your industrial company produces hazardous runoff from operating equipment, you need to treat the wastewater before dumping it into the sewer or wastewater stream. Depending on your industry, you may need to have a very detailed process that meets the highest standards. Each state and city might have their own standards and regulations you’ll need to meet, or you might be under federal regulations. 

Paper mills use harsh chemicals on a daily basis in the production of pulp and paper. These chemicals can be hazardous to the environment and to workers’ health, so it’s critical to install a chemical storage system you can rely on.

Leachate and condensate from landfills can contain hazardous materials — either from the waste itself or as a result of chemical compounds breaking down. Leachate is liquid that comes in contact with or is released from waste. Condensate is the liquid generated as a result of the gas collection and recovery process. In both cases, the liquid can be extremely hazardous and can create environmental disasters that take decades to recover from.

Liquid ammonium sulfate (LAS) started as a liquid fertilizer that was applied to hard ground. Today, LAS has become widely accepted as a stable and effective source of ammonia for chloramination in wastewater treatment. Alternatives such as anhydrous or aqueous ammonia are hazardous, sometimes requiring pressurized storage tanks and special handling and safety procedures. 

Whether you’re an engineer writing a spec for a chemical storage system, or an end-user who is looking for the best way to store corrosive chemicals, there are multiple factors that go into creating a safe storage system. Cost might be your first consideration, but there is more to consider than the initial price of the tank, its fittings and accessories, delivery, installation, and tank longevity.