Notes on Phosphoric Acid Discharge
and Tank cleaning operations
For all cargo operations including stripping and tank cleaning procedures
always refer to ships P and A manual.
Phosphoric acid is normally carried in rubber lined or SS tanks.
– Carried on Type 3 chemical tankers.
– IMO Ship Type 3
– is a tanker intended to transport products with sufficiently severe
environmental and safety hazards. These products require a moderate degree
of containment to increase survival capability in a damaged condition. There is
no filling restriction for chemicals assigned to Ship Type 3
Some of the properties of phosphoric acid is listed below
Pollutant Category Z
Specific Gravity: 1.685 @ 25 C (Water = 1) Vapor Pressure: 0.3 kPa (@ 20°C)
Vapour Density: 3.4 (Air = 1) Easily soluble in hot water. Soluble in cold water.
Very hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of
ingestion.
Phosphoric acid is non- flammable.
Reacts with metals to liberate flammable hydrogen gas
Minor corrosive effect on bronze. Severe corrosive effect on brass. Corrosive to
ferrous metals and alloys.
Polymerization: Will not occur.
In case of a spill Dilute with water and mop up, or absorb with an inert dry
material and place in an appropriate waste disposal container. If necessary:
Neutralize the residue with a dilute solution of sodium carbonate.
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Cleaning
ENSURE THE PREWASH AFTER DISCHG IS WITH FRESH WATER.
Then use sea water till the pH is 7. Immediately after that wash again with
fresh water to remove all chlorides from tank. This is crucial to avoid elephant
skin and gypsum formation of the residues. Have a look at the first empty tank.
If the sediment is too much --it is usual to recirculate at end of discharge of
each tank Acid/sea water mixture remaining in lines and stainless steel hoses
will soon result in pittings.
For SS Tanks :- After the tanks are thoroughly/finally cleaned, passivate the
tanks with Nitric Acid as the Phosphoric destroys the passive oxide coating on
the stainless. –
– Category Z: Noxious Liquid Substances which, if discharged into the sea from
tank cleaning or deballasting operations, are deemed to present a minor
hazard to either marine resources or human health and therefore justify less
stringent restrictions on the quality and quantity of the discharge into the
marine environment.
– Every ship constructed on or after 1 July 1986 but before 1 January 2007 shall
be provided with a pumping and piping arrangement to ensure that each tank
certified for the carriage of substances in Category X or Y does not retain a
quantity of residue in excess of 100 litres in the tank and its associated piping
and that each tank certified for the carriage of substances in Category Z does
not retain a quantity of residue in excess of 300 litres in the tank and its
associated piping.
– Underwater discharge is a must for category Z cargoes if the ship has been
built after January 2007
Underwater discharge :- New buildings will require such for all pollution
categories X, Y and Z.
– Tank Strippings and Discharge of tank washing for Phos acid as follows.
– Strip to 100 Liters.
– Wash tank with fresh water soon after discharging.
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– Wash tanks thoroughly with sea water
– Wash tanks again with fresh water (Phos Acid carriers will have large FW
tanks)
– Discharge tank washing 12 NMILES from the nearest land.
– Depth of the water must be more than 25 Meters.
– Speed of the ship must be more than 7 Knots
– No special area has been designated for Annex 2 cargoes (except Antarctic),
discharge of tank washings in not permitted in the Baltic region.
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