With some chemicals, it’s critical to keep them cool because they will lose their concentration when they heat up. Sodium Hypochlorite is a prime example of that. As it heats up, it starts to lose its strength, and it begins to release gas and free radicals. Its strength can diminish dramatically with heat and UV.

So it’s important to keep the chemical as cool as possible from the moment it arrives at your facility. Other chemicals are similar—if they become too warm, they won’t perform as well as you need them to.

Sodium hypochlorite is a chemical used in thousands of applications. As an aggressive oxidizer, it’s critical to limit the opportunity for the chemical to escape the storage tank. If you’re using a polyethylene tank to store oxidizing chemicals, you can double the life of your chemical storage tank by using an engineered antioxidant tank system.

In the United States, hazardous materials are regulated by the EPA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Department of Transportation (DOT). Each organization has its own definition of hazardous materials.

Surfactants are the corn syrup of the chemical world—they’re in all kinds of products you’d never expect. Most people know that surfactants are an active ingredient in detergents, but you can also find them in a wide range of cleaning products, wetting agents, emulsifiers (including motor oil), foaming agents or dispersants.

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as caustic soda or lye, is a common inorganic compound that is typically used as a strong chemical base.

In liquid form, caustic soda becomes “slippery” and tends to find weak points in storage containers, and fittings, and eventually create drips and leaks.

When it comes to fully draining a tank, cone-bottom tanks get the job done—except when they don’t. The fact is, cone-bottom tanks fall short on several fronts. Cleaning cone-bottom tanks creates unique challenges, they require additional vertical space and safety precautions, and they can cost a pretty penny.

So, how do you get all the benefits of a cone-bottom tank without the high maintenance or the hefty price tag?

Secondary containment is an important safeguard that helps plant operators mitigate the costly risks of chemical spills. Many companies are realizing the business advantages of switching from open-top tanks and concrete basins to a double-wall containment system.

When our customers are weighing their options, they usually have several questions about double-wall containment. Here are some of the most common questions and answers about double-wall containment systems.

Proper chemical storage is an important aspect of operating a plant or facility. In order to ensure that your chemicals are stored safely in polyethylene tanks, you need to choose a tank with the correct wall thickness. A fraction of an inch can make the difference between a tank that lasts for decades and one that fails early.

Here’s what you need to know about determining the correct wall thickness for your chemical storage tank.

Polymers are used in wastewater treatment plants to flocculate or coagulate suspended solids to produce large curds of solid materials. They also aid in dewatering digester cake, in order to reduce the water content and permit easier, less expensive transporting of waste materials to the landfill.

Polymers present unique storage challenges and require customized storage solutions to keep your workers safe and your costs low. Let’s explore these challenges and solutions.

Properly storing chemicals also means completely draining your storage tanks. Your regular maintenance and cleaning routine must include fully draining your chemical tanks to prevent contaminating new batches.

But sometimes, draining the tank is easier said than done. Space constraints, incorrect fitting placements, and dealing with hazardous chemicals can all complicate routine maintenance.