Question

Suggest suitable materials of construction for the following applications and provide justifications.

a) A 10,000 m' storage tank for toluene.
b) A 5.0 m' tank for storing a 30% w/w aqueous solution of sodium chloride.
c) A 2 m diameter, 20 m high distillation column, distilling acrylonitrile.
d) A 100 m storage tank for strong nitric acid.
e) A 500 m3 aqueous waste hold-up tank. The wastewater pH can vary from 1 to 12. The wastewater will also contain traces of organic material.
f) A packed absorption column 0.5 m diameter, 3 m high, absorbing gaseous hydrochloric acid into water. The column will operate at essentially atmospheric pressure.

Answer 1

a) 316 stainless steel

b) 316 stainless steel

c) Carbon steel

d) stainless steel 316

e) stainless steel 316

f ) Carbon steel

Step-by-step explanation:

A) A 10,000 M' storage tank for Toluene

The best material for building this tank is 316 stainless steel this is because it is relatively cheaper than other materials such as Hest Alloy C while still maintaining the required tensile strength needed to build the storage tank for Toluene

B) A 5.0 m' tank for storing a 30% w/w aqueous solution of sodium chloride

The suitable material for building this tank is 316 stainless steel as it is cheaper than Titanium and Hest Alloy C and it is compatible with sodium chloride

C) A 2 m diameter, 20 m high distillation column, distilling acrylonitrile

The best material for constructing this column is Carbon steel and this is because it has a very high compressive strength which is approximately . 1320 MPa

D) A 100 m storage tank for strong nitric acid.

The best material is stainless steel 316 and this is due to its high tensile strength

E) 316 stainless steel

F) Carbon steel is suitable for building this absorption column because it has a very high compressive strength which is approximately . 1320 MPa