Chemical Storage for the plating job shop

I am looking for the proper way to store chemicals typically found in a plating job shop with all different types of plating. I have a general idea of what to segregate, but would like knowledgeable insight on the proper storage. Thanks for any help KH

Hi Ken,

In a nutshell, I'd say that virtually any rotationally moulded Polyethylene tank would serve you purposes best & most economically.

They should be able to comfortably store any plating chemicals except for nitric (OK for low concentrations but nbg re any welding) where you'd be better served using glass, stainless or PVC.

Your local yellow pages will give you names of many suppliers who would be just delighted to help you.

Rect. Pe tanks are available in Canada & the USA up to 500 imp. gals ... round ones with (full) open tops to around 2,000 gals and closed top Pe tanks to over 3,000 gals.

OK? Hope this helps. Any more questions? I can perhaps do far better with air pollution questions!

Cheers !

Freeman Newton - White Rock, British Columbia, Canada

Ed. note: Please keep Freeman in your thoughts & prayers. Message from Freeman, Dec. 2010

Ken,

This is based on experience and common sense rather than codes--

1). You need to put flammables in one area (a metal cabinet rated for flammables). After that the only good guidelines I know are:

2). Put everything on pallets or in storage cabinets that have a grating above the containment pan. The reason being that if one drum leaks, it will not be able to wet or attack its way into another drum which may have incompatible ingredients.

3). Keep incompatible materials as far away from each other as possible.

4). Keep cyanide under lock and key.

5). Don't forget that oxidizing materials like chromic acid and nitric acid can ignite paper, cardboard, and other organic materials.

Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey