Name: US Chemical Storage: Acetone Uses, Risks, and Safety Tips
Uploaded: 2023-07-13
Duration: 2 min 48 s
Description: What is Acetone? Acetone is an organic compound that is the simplest and smallest ketone. It is an extremely versatile chemical with many industrial

What is Acetone? Acetone is an organic compound that is the simplest and smallest ketone. It is an extremely versatile chemical with many industrial applications. This versatile liquid solvent can break down and dissolve other substances. For this reason, it is found in paint and varnish removers, cleaning degreasers, and countless other products. What are some applications for Acetone? In the automotive industry, this residue-free solvent is used in paint and strippers, as well as to clean spray painting equipment. In the textile industry, it is used to manufacture textiles by dissolving resin powder, which is then spun into synthetic fibers. It is also used as a degreaser in the production of natural fibers like wool and silk. Acetone is an important chemical used in the production of plastics and polycarbonates for packaging. It is also found in resins used for 3D printing. Acetone’s properties are used as a solvent in various pharmaceutical formulations. It is used in pills and liquids to create the correct dosage of active ingredients. Electronics require exceptionally clean components in the manufacturing process. Acetone efficiently removes oils or other unwanted substances without leaving any residue. In the environment, it can be used to contain oil spills and clean the water’s surface, marine life, plants, or animals. As a gasoline additive, acetone helps achieve optimal consistency, improving road fuel efficiency. In the cosmetics industry, Acetone may be best known as a nail polish remover, but it is also an ingredient in many perfumes, hair care products, and other cosmetics. What are the hazards of Acetone? NFPA 30 classifies acetone as a Class 1B flammable liquid, which means its most hazardous property is flammability. It is vital you read and fully understand your chemical Safety Data Sheet from the acetone supplier you use. How should you safely store Acetone? When storing acetone, the space should remain cool and dry, and fire hazards must be avoided. That means using explosion-proof equipment inside, mechanical ventilation, climate control, and dry chemical fire suppression systems. U.S Chemical Storage has created hundreds of buildings for the storage of acetone. Our technical sales engineers are ready to help you design your perfect solution. Contact us today. www.uschemicalstorage.com or 1-800-233-1480

What is ammonia? Ammonia is a versatile chemical used in applications as diverse as refrigeration and fertilizers. It has multiple common forms.
Anhydrous ammonia is free of water. In this form, it exists as a compressed gas or liquid. Ammonium nitrate exists as a solid. It is the form of ammonia used as a fertilizer.

What are some applications for ammonia?
Compressed anhydrous ammonia is very cold. Companies use it as a refrigerant in large industrial applications as well as smaller cold rooms.
Ammonium nitrate is primarily used as fertilizer. The scale of agricultural production makes this an important product with high consumer demand.
Industrial applications use ammonium solutions. They are found in many cleaning solutions. Commercial cleaning companies use large quantities of products that contain ammonia.

What are the hazards of ammonia?
A clearly identifiable characteristic of ammonia is its strong, pungent odor. Although ammonia gas is lighter than air, these vapors tend to hug the surface of the ground and travel away from the source at ground level.
Ammonia forms an explosive mixture with air. This happened during an ammonia-related explosion at a fertilizer factory in Texas.
Ammonia vapors are also very corrosive. They cause severe burns and damage to the eyes. Ammonia is very toxic if inhaled or ingested. Immediate medical treatment is essential after exposure to ammonia.

How should you safely store ammonia?
Due to its explosion risk, store ammonia in a fire-rated chemical storage building. Regulators may require this depending on how far the ammonia storage location is from an occupied building.
Use an ammonia gas detector in the building to pick up the release of ammonia vapors. This will identify a leak and notify the relevant people via an alarm. Early detection enables a safe and timely response to resolve the leak. You may need ventilation on an ammonia storage building. Mechanical ventilation reduces the concentration of vapors in the building. This lowers the risk of explosion and gives emergency responders safe access to the storage containers.

Use hazardous waste storage buildings when dealing with waste containing ammonia residue. Hazmat storage buildings have the same safety features as chemical storage buildings. They can be made explosion-proof and can be fire-rated depending on your needs. Add safety features like mechanical ventilation or climate control systems.

When storing ammonia nitrate for use as fertilizer, consider a non-fire-rated chemical storage building. Be sure the building is located 30 feet or more from an occupied building or property line.

Contact U.S. Chemical Storage to learn more about ammonia storage. Our expert team understands the hazards involved and the regulatory requirements and can answer any questions pertaining to storing ammonia or other chemicals.