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Ferric Sulfate Storage — Water-Treatment Coagulant Tank Selection

Storing Ferric Sulfate? Start Here

Ferric sulfate is a powerful coagulant used in water treatment and industrial processes to remove impurities. It's particularly effective in cold water and low pH environments, making it a versatile choice for many applications. If you're considering using ferric sulfate, it's crucial to store it correctly to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Can you store it in a poly tank?

Yes, you can store ferric sulfate in a polyethylene tank. Both HDLPE and XLPE are suitable for storing 60% ferric sulfate, as they don't degrade under its acidic conditions. XLPE is often preferred for its long-term durability in demanding environments.

Key Issue: Staining

Ferric sulfate can cause permanent rust-like stains on concrete and light-colored surfaces. It's important to design your storage and handling areas with this in mind, using secondary containment and careful plumbing to prevent spills.

The safety that actually matters

  • Use EPDM gaskets for best performance and cost-effectiveness.
  • Avoid nylon and glass-filled plastic fittings; they degrade over time.
  • For tanks exposed to chloride, consider upgrading bolts to Hastelloy.

Common questions

Does ferric sulfate require special fittings?
Yes, use PVC fittings for ambient conditions and CPVC for heated applications.
What about secondary containment?
Secondary containment is mandatory to prevent environmental contamination.
How much ferric sulfate should I store?
Plan for a 30-60 day supply, with redundant tanks for maintenance flexibility.

Ferric Sulfate storage tanks from OneSource

For ferric sulfate storage, specify HDLPE_OR_XLPE rated to specific gravity 1.9. Verified, compatibility-matched options:

Confirm chemical compatibility and a ZIP freight quote with our team at 866-418-1777.

Sources & References

All compatibility ratings, hazard classifications, and chemical identifiers on this page are sourced from authoritative third-party publications. Verify against the original references before final specification.

  1. PubChem Compound Database — entry for Ferric Sulfate (CID 24826, CAS 10028-22-5). pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Library of Medicine / NCBI. Canonical chemical-identity reference.
  2. Snyder Industries Chemical Resistance Recommendations — system-of-construction guidance for polyethylene chemical-storage tanks at industrial ASTM 1.9 SG design rating. SNY-3041 Chemical Resistance Chart. Snyder Industries, current edition. Resin + fitting + gasket + bolt MOC matrix.
  3. Equistar Technical Tip — Chemical Resistance of Polyethylene — LDPE / MDPE / HDPE rating chart by concentration and temperature, distributed by Enduraplas. enduraplas.com (PDF). Equistar polyethylene resin chemical-resistance data, distributed via Enduraplas.
  4. NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. nfpa.org. NFPA 704 'fire diamond' health/flammability/instability/special-hazard rating system (0–4 scale).
  5. UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), current revision. unece.org/transport/ghs. GHS pictograms, signal words, and H-statement codes referenced in this guide.
  6. ASTM D1998 — Standard Specification for Polyethylene Upright Storage Tanks, current edition. astm.org. Cited as the design-specific-gravity standard (typically 1.9 SG) for industrial chemical-service polyethylene tanks.
  7. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards — occupational exposure limits, PPE, and IDLH data for Ferric Sulfate. cdc.gov/niosh/npg. CDC / NIOSH chemical-specific occupational-safety reference.

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