Material Selection for storage Sodium Methylate

[mariocalvo]

Hello,

I´m new in this tips, so i hope someone can help me.

I would like to know whether carbon steel can be suitable to store sodium methylate in solution of methanol at ambient temperature, or it is necessary to use SS.

Thanks in advance.

 

[moltenmetal]

First, start by calling it what it really is: sodium methoxide, the reaction product between sodium hydroxide and anhydrous methanol.

Next, consider what else was in the base when the methoxide was made. Does your methoxide contain some dissolved sodium chloride? That will also affect the correct selection.

 

[mariocalvo]

Moltemetal,

Thanks for your replay.
I think the sodium methoxide is pure, and has not sodium chloride, but i do not know if the methanol would have some water.

 

[MJCronin]

mario,

Is system this part of a bio-diesel project ?

If so, I believe that you may be required to use SS for your system....yes we know that it is expensive, but you want your plant to last

-MJC

 

[moltenmetal]

As it says on the wall of my colleague's office: "Assumption is the mother of all screw-ups!"

Don't assume anything: get the spec on the material you'll be storing. Then ask the manufacturer what they recommend as storage/handling materials. If your firm is the manufacturer, find out the method you're using to make it and the purity spec (AND nature of the contaminants present) in the reagents. Once you have these things, you'll have a basis for making a selection.