Blue barrel that contained zinc chloride

[jk_s124]

I just picked up two blue 35 gallon food grade barrels that had contained zinc chloride. I recieved them from a pharmaceutical wharehouse. The person who sold them to me claimed that they were flushed out twice. I’m wondering if these will be safe to use for mixing salt water. I’m planning on flushing them out a few more times, but was wondering if I would still be running a risk of contaminating the water I’m mixing?

 

[lapin]

Im not an expert on the barrel's ability to absorb the chemical. I do know that it is very soluble in water and that it should be stored in a moisture free environment. I would think that triple rinsing the barrel after they have rinsed it 2 times and left to dry should be enough.
Note: the FDA states a food grade barrel is no longer food grade after chemicals are stored in it.

 

[jk_s124]

Anybody know if the barrels would absorb the zinc chloride and now leach it out?

 

[lapin]

The barrel will have a imprint on the them saying what material they are made out of. You could then make an inquiry as to what property the material has as far as absorbing chemicals.

 

[Gareth elliott]

They sell test strips for zinc, around $20 could pick some up. Think the sensitivity is 2-100 mg/l with marked step inbtween.
Could also use a ph meter, zinc chloride in solution will have a noticeable acidic effect. Add water and monitor ph as the water sits.

Zinc far less toxic to marine fish as freshwater fish, something to do with the ca+ ions available in saline water. But it is still toxic at various levels. There is not much study on the numbers closest i could find was lethal levels between 50-200 mg/l on species of killifish from larval to adult forms respectively at 36ppt salinity.

 

[jk_s124]

The barrel will have a imprint on the them saying what material they are made out of. You could then make an inquiry as to what property the material has as far as absorbing chemicals.

Thank you very much. I’ll check to see today what exact material these barrles were made from.

 

[jk_s124]

They sell test strips for zinc, around $20 could pick some up. Think the sensitivity is 2-100 mg/l with marked step inbtween.
Could also use a ph meter, zinc chloride in solution will have a noticeable acidic effect. Add water and monitor ph as the water sits.

Zinc far less toxic to marine fish as freshwater fish, something to do with the ca+ ions available in saline water. But it is still toxic at various levels. There is not much study on the numbers closest i could find was lethal levels between 50-200 mg/l on species of killifish from larval to adult forms respectively at 36ppt salinity.

Great advice. I’ll look into a test kit. Thank you!