Removing polymerized oil from an IBC - any suggestions?

[Marv]

Well, about to start using an IBC I got, but after opening it up today, it finally dawned on me that the small amount of fish oil in the tank (maybe a quart total in the very bottom near the drain), has polymerized. Why I didn't notice that earlier is beyond me. Clay's comment of smelling like paint thinner finally made since after I got a good whiff of it.

Anyways, I hesitated on pumping my clean oil in the tank due to this.

What is everyone's take of putting good, clean WVO in there with the small amount of polymerized oil? Will it ruin the whole batch?

Right now, it's set up like cold honey too - due to the cold weather. So, first off I have got to get some heat into it, so it'll soften up. Then I need some way to mop it up I presume.

Anything I should spray the IBC down with? I figured since it was fish oil in there before, it shouldn't really need cleaning. What about diesel? How do you guys clean out those things?

Gotta do something soon...running out of cubes to store oil in...looks like I'll have to buy some containers tomorrow so I can go collect.

Thanks in advance!

[Hooter]

What's an IBC?

[Longstroke]

What's an IBC?

Hooter it's a large poly tote, normally holds 275 gal.

[Longstroke]

Well, about to start using an IBC I got, but after opening it up today, it finally dawned on me that the small amount of fish oil in the tank (maybe a quart total in the very bottom near the drain), has polymerized. Why I didn't notice that earlier is beyond me. Clay's comment of smelling like paint thinner finally made since after I got a good whiff of it.

Anyways, I hesitated on pumping my clean oil in the tank due to this.

What is everyone's take of putting good, clean WVO in there with the small amount of polymerized oil? Will it ruin the whole batch?

Right now, it's set up like cold honey too - due to the cold weather. So, first off I have got to get some heat into it, so it'll soften up. Then I need some way to mop it up I presume.

Anything I should spray the IBC down with? I figured since it was fish oil in there before, it shouldn't really need cleaning. What about diesel? How do you guys clean out those things?

Gotta do something soon...running out of cubes to store oil in...looks like I'll have to buy some containers tomorrow so I can go collect.

Thanks in advance!

Marv I would warm it and drain as much as possible then rinse the rest out with a gallon of diesel or kero, I would not use gas unless your into bomb making.

[skyskijason]

Don't mix it! Clean out the old stuff, diesel/kerosene/B100 and maybe a long, stiff brush. You can leave the diesel/kero residue in there, but know that may provide a false positive hot pan test later... We have 100's of gals of methanol around for making bio-d, so we often sacrifice a little for water removal after washing out containers.

In a nutshell, poly is 'contagious'. The free radicals that damage the molecules do more damage creating more poly and free radicals. This is why it may be a good idea to drain our truck tanks from time to time.

[Marv]

Longstroke, Jason, as always, thanks for the advice. I think you guys are confirming what I already suspected. That advice, coupled with Clay's suggestions today over the phone, convinces me that I should get it out of there.

I'm going to throw a heater in my (freshly insulated ) shed and see if I can't get some of it to soften up. Then I'll put some diesel in the sprayer I bought today and hose down the inside of the container real well. Then, as Jason suggested, I'm gonna use a scrub brush on it. Hopefully all that and a good draining will get it clean enough.

Interesting that you mentioned the "contagious" aspect to poly Jason. I was curious if that would happen if you mixed good oil with bad. Seems like you'd almost be giving it more "fuel" for the fire if you know what I mean.

Thanks again!

[Tampa450]

In a nutshell, poly is 'contagious'. The free radicals that damage the molecules do more damage creating more poly and free radicals. This is why it may be a good idea to drain our truck tanks from time to time.


I like to put some diesel in my veg tank when its empty, and run on that to clean out the whole system every once in a while

[Marv]

Just a quick update....

Poly'ed oil SUCKS!!!! (Just in case anyone was wondering.)

Spent an hour and a half this evening fighting with that crap. Ugh. Sprayed all of it down with diesel and went to town with a couple scrub brushes. 90% came out good along the walls and top. The bottom was a different story. The stuff is like glue...and I may or may not end up getting it all out.

Right now, I've got about a gallon of diesel in there soaking it. I also got it tilted up so it all runs to the drain. So far though, the diesel is slow to get it loosened up. It works, just slow. Add in the fact that I can't really get in there and it gets aggravating.

So...may be able to use it, maybe not. I'll give it a day or two and see what it does. I've also got the heater on in the shed, so maybe if I can keep it warm, it'll soften up more.

May just end up buying another container.

[Clay]

Don't beat yourself up here Marv, use the container. You may not get all of it out but i beg to differ on the idea that poly is contageous. Use it.

[Marv]

Don't beat yourself up here Marv, use the container. You may not get all of it out but i beg to differ on the idea that poly is contageous. Use it.

Well, I haven't given up yet...so, I'll keep trying. Got Friday off, so I'll attack it again then.

It'll have plenty of time to soak and hopefully I can keep it reasonably warm.