PPE at every touchpoint
Chemical goggles, gloves and apron for liquid handling. Add a dust mask for powder bag handling and mixing.
Safety & handling
PAC storage, handling and safety
PAC is corrosive and reacts with alkalis. None of this is difficult to manage, but getting the tank material or the storage segregation wrong is expensive and occasionally dangerous.
Material compatibility
| Material | Suitable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HDPE / polyethylene | Yes | The standard choice for tanks, IBCs, drums and dosing lines |
| PVC / CPVC | Yes | Standard for pipework and valves |
| FRP / GRP | Yes | Suitable for larger bulk tanks with an appropriate resin liner |
| Rubber-lined steel | Yes | Used for bulk storage where lining integrity is maintained |
| PTFE, PVDF | Yes | Suitable for pump seals, gaskets and instrumentation |
| Stainless steel 316 | Limited | Chloride attack over time — avoid for permanent contact |
| Mild / carbon steel | No | Corrodes rapidly. Never use for storage or lines |
| Aluminium | No | Reacts with the product. Never use |
| Concrete (unlined) | No | Acid attack on the cement matrix. Line it or do not use it |
HSE
Site handling requirements
Eyewash and shower
Required within immediate reach of the dosing and make-up area — not down the corridor.
Segregate from alkalis
Never store beside caustic soda, lime or hypochlorite. The reaction is exothermic and hypochlorite contact can release chlorine gas.
Bunded storage
Bund to at least 110% of the largest vessel. Bund must be lined with a compatible material.
Temperature control
Liquid PAC: 5–40°C, out of direct sun. UAE summer storage in an unshaded yard degrades it.
Dry storage for powder
Powder is hygroscopic. Keep bags sealed, on pallets, under cover. Caking is a storage failure, not a product fault.
Spill response and shelf life
For a spill, contain first and neutralise second. Contain with sand or a chemical absorbent, then neutralise cautiously with soda ash or lime, watching for heat generation — neutralisation is exothermic and adding alkali too fast generates a lot of it very quickly. Collect the residue for disposal per local regulation, and flush the area with water once the bulk is removed.
On shelf life: liquid PAC is roughly six months in sealed original packaging within the stated temperature range. Beyond that, gradual polymerisation causes haze and eventually sediment, and coagulation performance drops. Solid PAC is around twelve months in sealed bags kept dry.
Regional storage conditions are the practical constraint. An IBC standing in an unshaded yard through a UAE summer will not deliver six months of usable life. Shade and ventilation are cheap; a batch of degraded product and the plant upset that follows are not.
FAQ
Common questions
HDPE, PVC, FRP or rubber-lined steel. Never use mild steel, aluminium or unlined concrete — all three are attacked by the product.
Liquid PAC between 5°C and 40°C, shaded and ventilated, never in direct sun. Solid PAC in sealed bags on pallets under cover, protected from humidity.
Chemical goggles, gloves and apron as a minimum for liquid handling, plus a dust mask for powder handling and mixing. Eyewash and shower facilities must be immediately accessible.
Contain with sand or absorbent, then neutralise cautiously with soda ash or lime — the reaction generates heat, so add slowly. Collect residue for disposal per local regulation and flush the area afterwards. Follow the procedure in the Safety Data Sheet for your grade.
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