Why Are Chemicals Stored In Plastic Containers?

Have you ever wondered why plastic containers are most commonly used for storing chemicals? It goes well beyond the variety of shapes and sizes they come in, or the environmental benefits they offer, although these are major bonuses. Storing a chemical in the right container is the first way to ensure safety when handling strong acids and bases. A material that is likely to react with the chemical it holds, like a metal container, or break easily when dropped, like a glass container, isn’t going to be suitable for a substance like nitric acid, for example. This why there are a variety of plastic materials used for storing acids and bases so that each container can accommodate the unique properties of individual chemicals

Three Types of Plastic Containers

Polyethylene (PE)

Polyethylene was first synthesised in Germany in 1898 when chemist Hans von Pechmann prepared it by complete accident. Since then, PE has become the most common and widely produced plastic in the world. It can be used in three forms, which demonstrate its versatility and ability to be incorporated into a wide range of applications.

LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) is used to produce grocery bags. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) has a higher crystalline structure and can be recognised in your garbage bins and drainpipes. Ultrahigh Molecular Weight PE has higher performance applications and is even used to produce bulletproof vests. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why PE is an ideal material to store chemicals in. High-Density Polyethylene creates corrosion resistant plastic containers, and its thermoplastic properties mean that it can withstand temperatures, be cooled, and reheated again without any significant degradation. The diversity of PE variants means that it is compatible with most strong acids and bases. Like with the bulletproof vests, PE is noted for its high impact strength. This makes it perfect for storing chemicals as it is very difficult to break, and therefore decreases the risk of chemical spills. 

Polymethylpentene (PMP)

PMP is a transparent, thermoplastic polymer with high chemical resistance. But this complex polyolefin is actually the backbone to a very familiar object: beakers. We’ve all used beakers in Science class, and have at some time or another dropped one on the floor. Often, they do not break, and this is because classrooms have made the shift from glass beakers to Polymethylpentene beakers While PMP is more brittle than its cousin, Polyethylene, it can be designed to be shatterproof. Its clear material means that substances can be seen easily, and it’s also highly resistant to corrosion. PMP makes perfect plastic containers for storing both acids and bases of different strengths.

Teflon

Another accidental discovery by Roy Plunkett in 1938, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is the fluoropolymer behind Teflon. It is characterised by its hydrophobic properties, which means that most substances are unable to stick to Teflon. This is why it is able to resist corrosion from many chemicals, such as sulphuric acid and nitric acid. The slippery material means that PTFE will not absorb the chemicals it comes into contact with, and the strength of its carbon-fluorine bonds makes it non-reactive. For these reasons, Teflon-coated plastic containers are ideal for storing a wide variety of acids and bases. 

But what about glass containers? 

While glass containers do have their advantages, such as being nonporous and chemically inert, they have major drawbacks in the fact that they break easily. Not only would this create sharp glass fragments, it would also expose potentially harmful and corrosive chemicals. In addition, not all acids and bases are safe to store in glass containers, meaning that its versatility is very limited. Hydrofluoric acid, for example, has the propensity to eat through glass (SiO2); it contains the element Fluorine which can dislodge oxygen from its bond. On the other hand, Hydrofluoric acid can be stored in Polyethylene, Polymethylpentene, and Teflon containers, showing how plastic containers are the ideal material for containing chemicals.

The chemical substances are stored in containers made of different materials, such as plastics, metals, and glass depending on the substance. Most of the chemicals are stored in glass containers, not in plastics containers because glass is more neutral and durable in contact with chemicals. They may influence the chemicals less. Plastic materials usually contain some amounts of additives (stabilizers, processing aids, etc.) that may contaminate the chemical. Plastic containers are also used to temporarily store some of the chemicals.

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Advantages of Recycling Plastics

Plastics should be recycled because of a number of reasons as can be seen below:

Provision of a Sustainable Source of Raw Materials

Recycling plastics provides a sustainable source of raw materials to the manufacturing industry. Once the plastics are recycled, they are sent to manufacturing industries to be redesigned and converted into new shapes and used in different appliances.

Reduces Environmental Problems

Since plastics are non-biodegradable, they pose a high risk to the people and the environment as a whole. They can block sewer lines, drainages and other waterways leading to blockages and unwanted pileups. When plastics are eliminated through recycling, the environment looks clean and inhabitable.

Reduces Landfill Problems

Recycling plastics minimizes the amount of plastic being taken to the ever-diminishing landfill sites. Most countries have designated areas specifically meant for burying plastics. When they are recycled, these sites will receive little plastic garbage. The remaining areas can be used for other purposes instead of dumping plastics that do not rot. These areas can be used for agriculture or for human settlement. It should be understood that human population is growing each day and land is becoming a problem. Instead of misusing the land for garbage disposal it can be used for settlement and other important economic activities.

Consumes Less Energy

Recycling of materials including plastics requires less energy as compared to making the plastic from scratch. This saves energy and that energy can be diverted to other important things in the economy. It is therefore important to encourage plastic recycling in the manufacturing industry as it will save the economy billions of money. The process of manufacturing plastic using natural raw materials is expensive and time consuming compared to the recycling process.

Encourages a Sustainable Lifestyle among People

Individuals who have ventured into plastic collection and recycling business will experience improved lifestyles as they will get their daily income from the business. This will, in the long run, improve the economy and boost the living standards of the people. So do not just sit there doing nothing, embrace plastic recycling activities and improve your economic standards.

In summary, any sort of effort aimed at saving the environment is very important and matters a lot. Since its inception during the environmental revolution in the late 1960s, plastic recycling is one of the most encouraged solid waste management programs in the world. Prior to the push to use of plastic containers by manufacturers, products were packaged in glass, metal and paper. Therefore, in order to keep our environment clean, reduce landfills, provide a sustainable supply of plastics to manufacturers, it is important to recycle plastics.

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Plastics for Food Packaging

Use of plastics for food packaging applications is increasing both in quantum as well as in variety. Plastics are available in various forms such as monofilms, co-extruded films, laminates, sachets, jars, bottles, jerry cans, trays, cups and containers of all shapes and sizes. Realising the versatility of plastic packaging which has prompted its wide usage in food packaging in the country, it was considered expedient by the BIS to formulate standard on this subject – IS: 10171-1982, Guide on Suitability of Plastics for Food Packaging.

This standard is expected to provide general guidance to the food packer in selecting the specific thermoplastic material or its combination to design an acceptable food packaging system. The standard, however, does not provide guidance on the actual design of the food packaging system or cover the shelf-life requirements for various food products. The standard also states that the plastics used shall be of food grade material and should be safe for food contact and conform to the relevant Indian Standards and used in conjunction with the following series of standards on food contact plastics of which it forms a part.

Standards and Specifications of Plastic Recycling

The Indian plastic industry has helped formulate standards and specifications for plastics recycling in the country. There are two BIS standards introducing the coding system recycling practices and standards for the manufacture & usage of recycled plastics.

• Recycled Plastics for Manufacturing of Products Designation IS: 14535

Scope:

1. This standard is intended to be used for the identification of the recycled plastic material on the basis of its basic properties and applications.

2. This standard applies to recycled plastics material ready for normal use without any further modifications.

3. Though some modification and test methods have been provided in the standard, any specific modification and the relevant test method, which may be necessary for some specific applications, shall have to be agreed between the purchaser and the supplier.

4. Though this designation system is only indicative of a broad classification of the recycled material, the absolute value of the low results may be provided which shall be agreed to, between the purchaser and the supplier.

• Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics

This standard prescribes guidelines to the manufacturers of plastic products with regard to the marking to be used on the finished product in order to facilitate identification of the basic raw material. It will also help in identifying whether the material used on the end product is recyclate or a blend of virgin and recyclate.

Terminology:

1. End Products: Products made out of the virgin, recycled/reprocessed plastics. Typical suggested end products along with the use of appropriate types of plastic waste/scrap are given. A process by which plastic waste is collected, segregated, processed and returned for use.

2. Classification of Recycling: Plastics recycling technologies have been historically divided into four general types – primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary

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