Vegetable oil 55 gallon drum

[Hallowhead]

I had the ability to get a 55 gallon drum that used to hold vegetable oil

How can I clean it and prepare it for RO/DI storage ?

 

[Peace River]

I had the ability to get a 55 gallon drum that used to hold vegetable oil

How can I clean it and prepare it for RO/DI storage ?

I'd start with diluted vinegar and then recheck. Good luck!

 

[Hallowhead]

I'd start with diluted vinegar and then recheck. Good luck!

What do you mean by recheck ?

 

[Peace River]

What do you mean by recheck ?

I would check smell, feel, fill with water and look for any floating oily residue, and anything else that any of your senses tell you is unusual.

 

[Hallowhead]

I would check smell, feel, fill with water and look for any floating oily residue, and anything else that any of your senses tell you is unusual.

Do you think dawn bath first would be good to break it up?

 

[Peace River]

Do you think dawn bath first would be good to break it up?

Yes, but you will need to rinse, rinse, rinse, and rinse some more afterwards. I realize that it is marketed as earth friendly, but I still wouldn't add any to my tanks.

 

[WVNed]

Is it dry and clean or goopy inside? I would use the dawn if it was goopy with oil. Maybe more than once and use hot water if you can. Then I would rinse it well and use it.

 

[Hallowhead]

Yes, but you will need to rinse, rinse, rinse, and rinse some more afterwards. I realize that it is marketed as earth friendly, but I still wouldn't add any to my tanks.

I would do a quick dawn than keep rinsing till no suds than do a vinegar bath twice

 

[Peace River]

I would do a quick dawn than keep rinsing till no suds than do a vinegar bath twice

That sounds like a reasonable plan.

 

[GThompson]

Is this a plastic or metal drum ? Personally I wouldn’t use a metal drum

 

[Hallowhead]

That sounds like a reasonable plan.

big upgrade from my 45 gallon brute! I can start making an automated system

 

[Hallowhead]

Is this a plastic or metal drum ? Personally I wouldn’t use a metal drum

it's a plastic drum.

They're PE-HD high density polyethylene

 

[Peace River]

Is this a plastic or metal drum ? Personally I wouldn’t use a metal drum

@GThompson - Good question! I just assumed it was HDPE because that is what I have seen vegetable oil transported in.

 

[GThompson]

A good washing with a little Dawn and a really good rinsing, you should be good. @Peace River , I had to ask because I order a vegetable oil that comes in a steel drum and I just wouldn’t use them for rodi water no matter how clean it was.

 

[Hallowhead]

A good washing with a little Dawn and a really good rinsing, you should be good. @Peace River , I had to ask because I order a vegetable oil that comes in a steel drum and I just wouldn’t use them for rodi water no matter how clean it was.

Would Leach metal for sure

 

[Hallowhead]

So it's been soaking ~ Tuesday / Wednesday I forget with 2 gallons of vinegar. There is no floating oil or goop. It has that vegatable smell a little but I feel like it will until I dump the vinegar - should I dump it now ? And begin my attempt at scrubbing the inside ?

 

[Hallowhead]

I dumped out the vinegar bath scrubbed it with a towel and let it dry. It still very much so smells like a sweet liquid.

Is this harmful ? Does the smell need to be completely removed before using for RO/DI storage?

 

[lapin]

You might need a surfactant to break the bond between the oil and plastic. Dawn would work. Then scrub a bit. Tripple rinse, air out, and you should be good to go

 

[Hallowhead]

You might need a surfactant to break the bond between the oil and plastic. Dawn would work. Then scrub a bit. Tripple rinse, air out, and you should be good to go

How would I be able to tell if the dawn is gone ?

I don't want soap in my tanks !

 

[Devaji]

I plan on doing the same for an AWC station. A lot cheaper than the expensive containers we see ppl using.

I would guess you will know when dawn is gone as there will be no more bubbles. give it a few rinses.