Nitric acid, or HNO3, is a colorless compound that tends to turn brownish-yellow when it decomposes into nitrogen oxides and water. It’s commonly used in the production of grass and plant fertilizers with ammonia to make ammonium nitrate, which is perfect for nitrogen-hungry vegetation. HNO3 works as a compound within rocket propellant, as well as a regular combustible fuel in diesel engines. It’s also used for oxidizing metal, artificially aging maple and pine in woodworking, the manufacture of some clothing dyes, the production of some plastics, and for making explosives such as nitroglycerin and TNT.
Since it’s a powerful corrosive and oxidizing agent, nitric acid can cause violent reactions. When in contact with air, “fuming nitric acid” (concentrations of nitric acid above 90%) can yield toxic fumes that cause massive permanent harm when inhaled. People can also be severely hurt when it’s ingested or absorbed through the skin. Laboratory explosions can even occur when nitric acid waste touches other incompatible chemical waste.
Naturally, nitric acid is a dangerous chemical that must be properly handled and stored, and the best solution for nitric acid storage is a custom plastic fabrication. Unmodified storage tanks or tanker trucks may work, but customized products offer more cost effective and convenient results that will follow your exact build and design specs, from the ground up.
Companies like ours can help you design the storage solution you need, or simply help you determine the right specifications to produce the best, strongest, tightly fitting product possible. Using a range of manufacturing procedures, including encapsulation, machining, routing, and welding, custom plastic fabrication can result in high-quality enclosures, process tanks, and cabinets for nitric acid storage.
Some of the best possible materials for a custom fabrication include PTFE, PFA, PVDF, Polypropylene, FM4910 and CPVC materials. Fluoropolymers and other engineered plastics can offer great chemical resistance to strong acids and bases, which makes them a great solution for storage and handling of harsh chemicals. PVDF, PFA and PTFE are excellent polymer materials for handling industrial grade concentrated Nitric acid.
The cost effectiveness weldability and formability of PVDF and PFA materials result in their selection for many Nitric acid storage and soaking tanks. These tanks can be single lined or double lined, each arc and leak tested, resulting in a corrosion resistant high purity solution which can perform under a wide temperature range. All of iPolymer’s products and services meet the industries ISO-9001 standards.
Of course, standard safety precautions should always be taken as well when dealing with corrosive agents such as nitric acid. All small custom nitric acid storage containers should be tightly sealed, and placed on lower shelves close to the floor, or preferably in its own storage cabinet, and preferably not inside or near metal since it can be corroded. Secondary containment measures such as plastic trays or tubs should also be used, and spill control pillows and other neutralizing agents should be available nearby in case of spills. When it comes to nitric acid storage, safety and custom fabrication can go a long way to preventing injury.
To find out more about how we can help you create a custom solution for nitric acid storage, and improve your chemical handling safety in a more economical and efficient way, contact iPolymer today.
