5/17/2017 Sulphuricacidloading,carrying&dischargingSpecialhandlingmethods

Home||Chemicalhazards||Variouschemicals||CargoStowage||Care||Tank
cleaning||Handlingequipments||

Loading,carrying&dischargingofSulphuricacidregulatoryrequirements&
specialhandlingmethods

Loading,carryingatsea&dischargingofSulphuricacidinvolvehighriskandrequire
sophisticatedhandlingforsafety,healthandlosspreventionreasons.Theyneedcareful
considerationpriorloading,tankcoatingcompatibility,crosscompatibilitywithother
cargoescarried,environmentalcontrolsifrequired(inerting).

ACIDProductCharacteristics

Productsafetydatasheetsmaybeavailablefromvarioussources.Forsafety
preparation,untilthespecificproductsafetydatasheetcanbeobtained,theChemical
DataGuideforBulkShipmentbyWater(U.S.DoT),shouldbeused.Concerningthe
IBC/BCHcode(respective16.2/5.2)themastershouldrequestthespecificproduct
safetydatasheetbeforecommencementofloading.Thesafetydatasheetpostedmust
beinalanguageunderstoodbyship'sOfficersandCrew(English).

Regulatoryrequirements

SulphuricAcidisregulatedforbulktransportationbytheIMO,BCHandIBCcodes.
Followingisthesummaryofthecodes'minimumrequirements

1.UNnumber:1830
2.Pollutioncategory:Y
3.HazardsPollutionandsafetyhazard:(S/P)
4.Shiptype:3
5.Tanktype:Integralgravitytank
6.Tankvents:Openventing
7.TankEnvironment:Nospecialrequirement
8.Electricalequipment:Nospecialrequirement
9.Gauging:Open
10.VapourDetection:No
11.FireProtection:No
12.Materialofconstruction:Seespecialrequirements
13.Respiratoryandeyeprotection:Individualunitsnotrequiredforemergencyescape
purpose
14.SpecialRequirements:SeeIBCCode:15.11,15.16.2,15.19.6andtheBCHCode:
4.8,4.15.2,5.2.7,5.2.8.

SpecialarrangementsSulfuricacid

http://www.chemicaltankerguide.com/handlingSulfuricacid.html 1/5
5/17/2017 Sulphuricacidloading,carrying&dischargingSpecialhandlingmethods

Ensurethatthereisonboardsufficientacidresistanthosesforthecargotransfer.Ensure
thatthereisonboardsufficientacidsprayshieldstocoverflangesonmanifoldandhose
connectionsaccordingtoIBCcode15.11.4andBCHcode4.8.4.

Preloadingprecautions&loadingsulfuricacid

IBCcodecompatibilitychartstrictlyprohibitswaterinadjacentcompartmentto
Sulphuricacidasyouareawareifbothcomeincontactwitheachotherwill
generateaviolentreaction.Itisthereforerecommendedthattheduringloadingof
sulphuricacidadjacentballasttankstobealwaysstrippeddrytothemaximum
efficiencyofthedeballastingequipmentused.

SulphuricAcidisnormallycarriedinstainlesssteeltankswithaminimum
concentrationof90%andattemperaturesnotexceeding35C.
Highlyconcentrated,sulphuricacidmaybecarriedinmildsteeltanks,butonlyafter
obtainingspecialpermitsfromtheclass.
ItishighlyrecommendedthatChemicalsuitstobewornbyallthedeckhands
involvedinthecargohandling.

PreparationsforLoading

Thetankmustbecleanedto"VisualWaterWhiteStandard"andfreeofany
residuesfrompreviouscargoes,chloridesandanyotherforeignmatters.
Athoroughinspectionofthetank'slowerareasandtanktopmustbecarriedout,
withspecialemphasisonsteeldefectdetection.Anysuspectedareas,andwelding
seams,mustbe"dyechecked"forcracks.
Heatingcoilstobepressuretestedforleaks,blownemptyanddriedwithnitrogen.
Thetankmustbedrybeforeloadingispermitted.
Thesurroundingcofferdamsanddoublebottomsmustbeemptyanddry.

DischargingSulfuricacid

BecauseofthehighspecificgravityofSulphuricAcid,veryhighpumppressuremaybe
experienced.Insuchcasescaremustbetakennottoquicklyopenorclosevalvesinthe
pumpsystemasthiscausespressuresurgesthatmayrupturelinesorhoses

Cleaningandslop

SulphuricAcidin3070%concentrationsisnonoxidizingandattacksthesteelrapidly,
particularlyatelevatedtemperatures.WhenconcentratedSulphuricAcidisdilutedthe
reactionisexothermicandthetemperatureofacidwillrapidlyincrease.Ifthetankis
cleanedwithinadequatequantitiesofwater,theacidwillbecomehot,asitisdiluted,and
rapidattackwilloccuronthestainlesssteeluntilsufficientwaterisintroduced.

http://www.chemicaltankerguide.com/handlingSulfuricacid.html 2/5