Chemical storage tanks are, of course, storage tanks used to hold (usually) liquid chemicals. These are very important in many cases, and particularly where the chemicals may be hazardous materials (hazmat) and where they may have negative consequences for the environment. A company that deals with chemicals will normally need to keep quantities in storage, whether for research, production or energy. This means they need to find a way to store the chemicals without risking them contaminating the surrounding environment or getting lost. This can be difficult if the chemicals need to be stored in particularly large quantities or if they are corrosive. Therefore, there are many different types of chemical storage tanks and many different solutions to the problem of chemical storage. Here we will look at these container tanks in more detail and how they vary.
Chemical storage tanks, sometimes simply called chemical tanks, are the first method of control for the often aggressive reactive/corrosive chemicals and therefore it is the job of the company to select the product tank. chemicals that best suit those chemicals and prevent damage. to the environment/personnel list.
A chemical tank, then, is made of resistant materials, specifically materials that are resistant to the particular chemical being stored. Therefore, you can find polyethylene tanks and plastic storage tanks and this will depend on the type of chemical it contains. Meanwhile, the tank will also be able to operate within the mechanical requirements of the application; in other words, it will be able to withstand use, however, and this is known as ‘compatibility’.
Sometimes the tank will also have to withstand other factors, such as extreme temperatures (for example, when working with liquid nitrogen) or extreme heat (perhaps as a result of where the chemical is used), movement (particularly if the chemical needs to be transported) and pressure among others. At the same time, a well-designed storage tank will not only be environmentally friendly and capable of holding the chemical and its by-products, but will also be as economical as possible using the minimum materials necessary to save on company overhead.
For a company choosing the correct compatible chemical storage tanks, this can be daunting, but luckily there is plenty of documentation available to help with this. For example, it is possible to obtain information from the ‘chemical profile information report’ for the specific chemical you are working with. This is known as ‘MSDS’ – Material Safety Data Sheet. This will provide you with most of the information you need for that specific chemical. However, if you are still in doubt, the best thing to do is to contact a containment tank supplier and discuss your unique specifications with them. They will help your company find the necessary storage container that takes into account not only the chemical, but also its intended application beyond storage, as well as your financial requirements.