EPDM gaskets

Will EPDM gasket material stand up to 28% nitrogen fertilizer? I'm putting a couple of bulkhead style fittings in 2- 5000 gallon polly tanks that I'm going to use to store 28%. The catalog lists these fittings as having EPDM gaskets. I Googled EPDM and it looks like it's frequently used for roofing and sealing water container fittings. A few other chemicals were listed too but I'm certainly no chemist and I have no idea what the properties of these other chemicals are or if they are similar to 28%.

I obviously do not want a leak in the bottom of a tank containing 5000 gal of 28%. Thanks. Jim

At work, we have EPDM gaskets on a dual tank equalizer containing 32% Hydrochloric Acid, below is the information from the MSDS sheet.

Excellent resistance to UV rays and ozone. Good resistance to Anti-freeze, Synthetic Detergents, Acetone, Boric acid, Ethanol, Formaldehyde, Mercury, Potassium Sulfate, Silver Nitrate, Steam (up to 212 Fahrenheit), Saccharin. For EPDM's gasket materials compatibility with your specific medium please contact American Seal & Packing.

EPDM is superior to Buna N and short of TEFLON. If you are concerned, and should be, check with your supplier and ask what their experience is. Another alternative is to "cook" a sample at elevated temperature. Each 10 F doubles the rate.

Protect the poly tank from sunlight and support the piping to prevent mechanical stress. Inspect the gasket periodically.

If you need to enter the tank ensure the tank has been cleaned and purged and mechanical ventilation is used. If entry is restricted have a means of rescue.

Check your states DEQ; DEC or whatever their EPA state plan is called to see if your tank requires registration.

Have a plan in mind on how to mitigate a leak. Most leaks develop slowly. (Is there a truck terminal you can call to off load the tank so R+R can be accomplished?)

Ammonia solutions are notorious for slow leaks. I would recommend a impervious slab, with grooves or a grate to aid in leak detection. Keep a written inspection record to document you are aware of the hazard.

Do you have insurance for chemical releases?

Minimize inventory days in storage to control risk.

The two happiest days were when I had a 10 tank farm and when I did not.

All good ideas. The fittings are supported fairly temporarily because I don't know how much these tanks will settle when filled. Both are inside separate buildings on separate farms and the base is solid so I don't expect them to sink, but you never know. 5000 gal capacity is the max allowed without containment and reporting mandates for this neck of the woods so that's why the tanks are on separate farms. One reason I'm concerned about getting it right the first time is because of the reasons you stated, the tank will need to be evacuated and cleaned before re-entry. I do know the owner of a local trucking firm that has tankers who can come to my aid if I need to pump the tank out. One of his trucks will probably be making the delivery.

The only reason I'm getting the tanks is because the local elevators have locked horns as to who can be the biggest, but their customer service has suffered as a result. I just can't wait four days for them to come spray on my 28% pre-plant when I want to plant NOW. I have a good sprayer that's capable of putting on large gallons per acre and I now have the manpower with my son next door so I'm gonna do it myself from now on. Then there's the price advantage of having the semi deliver it to me straight from the terminal. Jim

Read your regs carefully. I suspect you can have both tanks on the same farm, just that they can't be interconnected.

Also the inert ingredients may not count; so 28% of the mix may just count to the 5000 gal threshold.

Does your truck owner have a tanker to lease you for a couple of weeks? That way you have a tested vessel and no outlay or more than a minimal risk.

Some tankers can not be unhooked from the tractor full....

As I understand it,the laws go by capacity rather than how much is actually in the tank but I'm going by what I've been told by people involved with this stuff, not what I've actually studied. I doubt if the trucker will dolly a full tank, and I don't have anywhere with cement thick enough to do it on this farm. I did call the company the fittings are coming from. They channeled me to tec support and I had to explain in detail exactly what I was dealing with. We finally settled on Urea as he didn't know what a 28% nitrogen solution was, and I'm admittedly lacking in that area too. He disappeared for a moment and then came back and said it's OK. so I've gotta trust him. Thanks for all the suggestions. I certainly need all the help I can get.LOL Oh yes, my insurance does cover a spill up to $50,000. If the whole landscape has to be dug up and cleaned that would be eaten up quick. Jim

Jim, call Sprayer Specialties in Grimes, IA . The Killian boys have been building Ag sprayers and storage tanks for several generations. Ask em, they will tell you what works best.
http://www.sprayers.com/

Thanks. Jim