Storage process for refined glycerin (storage tanks)
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I have recently come into contact with the storage of glycerin derivatives. Currently, there are two main applications for such glycerin derivatives: one in the industrial sector, where the standard Glycerin GBT13206-2022 applies, and the other in the food industry, where the standard Food Additive Glycerin GB29950-2013 is followed. We use storage tanks for storage, and the current ones are carbon steel tanks. I would like to ask for advice: 1) Is it feasible to store glycerol in carbon steel tanks? Should an internal anti-corrosion coating be used? What type of paint should be used? For phytoglycerin intended for food use, does the anti-corrosion material in the storage tank need to have corresponding food safety standard certification? 2) Can carbon steel pipes be used for the storage and transportation process pipelines? 3) For tank heating, which is more suitable: electric tracing or steam tracing?
1) Storing glycerol in carbon steel tanks is generally feasible, but it should be noted that, as a liquid, glycerol may have a certain corrosive effect on carbon steel under specific conditions, especially when the moisture content is high. Therefore, whether to use an internal anti-corrosion coating depends on the specific storage conditions and the purity of glycerin. For industrial use, suitable anti-corrosion coatings designed for chemical applications can be chosen. For phytoglycerin intended for consumption, the coating inside the storage tanks must be made of materials that meet food safety standards, and it is necessary to have corresponding food safety certification. 2) For storage and transportation process pipelines, the use of carbon steel pipes is feasible in most cases, but attention must also be paid to the compatibility issue between glycerin and carbon steel. If glycerin has a high purity and low water content, carbon steel pipes generally pose no problem ； However, if the conditions are not met, it may be necessary to consider using stainless steel pipes to reduce the risk of corrosion. 3) Regarding tank heating, both electric tracing and steam tracing have their own advantages. Electric heat tracing provides relatively uniform heat distribution and is relatively easy to control, making it suitable for small-scale applications or situations where precise temperature control is required. Steam tracing offers high heating efficiency and relatively low costs, making it suitable for large-scale storage applications that require rapid temperature rise. Therefore, the choice of heating method is primarily determined by specific operational requirements and economic considerations. If high temperature control is required, electric heating may be a better choice ； If cost and efficiency are considered, steam tracing may be more suitable. .