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Formic Acid and Sodium Hydroxide storage tanks

I am looking at utilising some existing 8000gall. bulk tanks for the storage of 88% Formic Acid and 50% Sodium Hydroxide. Would Stainless Steel be suitable for both, or would it be preferred to use a lined tank for the caustic (Maybe even a Glass lined tank)?

Mark Macdonald
User - Warwick, RI, USA
2007

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2007

Stainless is fine for caustic. In fact, either mild steel or polyethylene is fine for caustic. Using SS is kind of overkill.

The last thing you want to line a caustic storage tank with is glass. Caustic attacks it.

Dave Wichern
Consultant - The Bronx, New York

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Regarding your formic acid, stainless is also OK, provided it is of the 300 series (preferably 316) and the acid is free of chlorides or other halides.
G. Marrufo-Mexico

Guillermo Marrufo
- Monterrey, Mexico
2007

How do you clean the inside of a sodium hydroxide tank. The formations are a white clumpy crystalline formation and the tank is steel. Is there an easier way without putting men inside on ladders with industrial scrapers?

David Bradford Russell
- Raleigh, North Carolina
2007

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No good suggestion for you; hope someone else has one. But if people do go into the tank, remember that it's a confined space and safety harnesses may be required, and fresh air.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007