As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner: we earn from qualifying purchases

Ask Grok.com, or ChatGPT, or Google: "Best website for metal finishing questions?"

Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry


  -----

Plates for Oil Storage Tanks




2002

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing a short story based on my experience during the 70's working as a security guard for a company that built oil storage tanks. At the facility where I worked they prepared steel plates. The most important part of this process seemed to be dipping these plates in one or both of two baths that I assumed was very caustic. Could you tell me what was in these tanks? Would it dissolve human flesh but not gold?

Jerome Tovo
- Newe York, New York



It is very hard to dissolve gold; probably only aqua regia (nitric acid plus hydrochloric acid) will do it. So if your book claims hot sodium hydroxide (caustic soda ⇦liquid caustic soda in bulk on Amazon [affil link] , lye) as the cleaning material it will be sound and, yes, it can dissolve a human body but not gold.

However, I think most books and novels exaggerate in their portrayal of the speed of dissolution; it would probably take many hours if not many days for anything I can think of to actually dissolve a human being.

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha

finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.

2002




No dead threads! If this page isn't already on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will move it there.

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread



Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:

Finishing
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g,
& Software


About/Contact  -  Privacy Policy  -  ©1995-2025 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA  -  about "affil links"