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Short-term Storage of methanol in plastic container 1

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Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson

Chemical
Oct 20, 2016
119
Dear all.
Hello.
I have a question. Would you please help me?
We want to storage and transport methanol for a short period of time (loading from one tank and unloading to the other tank- distance: 500 m). Currently we are using plastic container.

Is there any safety guideline in NFPA or other standards for storage and transport of methanol for a short-term and short-distances using plastic container?
Thanks in advance...
 
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Like LittleInch (Petroleum) indicates methanol is not to be trifled with

SDS Product name : Methanol

(attached) [URL unfurl="true" said:
https://www.methanol.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Materials-Selection-for-Neat-Methanol-Service_FINAL.pdf[/URL]]The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Process Piping Code, ASME B31.3, assigns facility owners responsibility for determining and designating whether their process is Category M Fluid Service. That is, owners must determine whether the toxicity of the fluid and the manner in which the fluid is received, stored, transferred, and processed needs ‘joint tightness’ protections for valves, pump seals, flanges and the like, above and beyond those indicated in Chapters I through VII of the ASME Code.
Click to expand...
 
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Reading through the link LI provided, I learned something interesting - symptom onset to methanol exposure can be slowed by ethanol ingestion, as the body preferentially metabolizes ethanol over methanol. I wonder if any methanol production plant has kept emergency "shots" of alcohol around for methanol exposure...

As to the OP - plastic containers are usually not a good idea for flammable liquids. They are non-conductive and pose a greater risk from static accumulation. If you are subject to OSHA, they have some guidelines that limit storage and transportation of flammable liquids in "plastic" containers.

See
Specifically, look at table H-12. I don't believe you will find any type of standard plastic container (IBC tote, e.g.) would be acceptable per OSHA.
 
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TiCl4 said:
I wonder if any methanol production plant has kept emergency "shots" of alcohol around for methanol exposure...
Click to expand...
I had been working on a chemical facility where methanol is processed. I had 2 bottles of Russian vodka in my office. 1st one was intended to provoke vomit and empty guts. 2nd one was intended to prevent intoxication through blood.
It was a normal practice on that plant.

There was a joke that if you want to have a free drink you need to drink 5g of MeOH plus 50g of EtOH and immidiatelly call to emergency - it guarantees a long intence alcohol trip on a bed in a local hospital as you will be pumped in with EtOH for several days untill you will urinate all MeOH out.

TiCl4 said:
plastic containers are usually not a good idea for flammable liquids. They are non-conductive and pose a greater risk from static accumulation.
Click to expand...

TiCl4 said:
I don't believe you will find any type of standard plastic container (IBC tote, e.g.) would be acceptable per OSHA.
Click to expand...

@all for information:
 
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Shvet,

The table in the OSHA CFR guidelines allow small plastic containers like you posted. My impression was that OP needed to transport drum/tote quantities (55-275 gal) or more of methanol. In such cases, I believe metal containers are required, as I have not seen large plastic containers approved for class 1 flammable liquids. They may exist, but I have yet to see them.

Also, great anecdote!
 
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Jack, your only constrained by the plant owner's tolerance for risks. There are no reg's that apply in this case.
 
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don1980 said:
Jack, your only constrained by the plant owner's tolerance for risks. There are no reg's that apply in this case.
Click to expand...

Not so, Don, if their plant is in the US. OSHA regulations directly apply to this.
 
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Jack's profile IP pointer does not indicate a U.S. location. I know those things are wrong a good bit, but . . . it's all we got.

Good Luck,
Latexman
 
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A pity the OP hasn't logged on since 18th March - Maybe he discovered that plastic containers weren't a good idea... [flame]

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
 
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Don't you mean:

blue-fire_yhv8cw.jpg


Keith Cress
kcress -
 
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In the oil gas business, we use small tote tanks for sundry transport of flammable / nasty liquids (diesel, corrosion inhibitor, methanol, demulsifier, defoamer, pH modifier, viscosity modifiers etc.) Tote Tank made in SS316 or SS316L, with valved vent, valved drain and PVRV. Ideally, it should sit in a lifting cage.

 
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Come on, give us a bit more feedback than that.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
 
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Well, we are currently using plastic container (Rigid PP or PE). But operation section is really concern about safety issues of this task...
 
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