Global Pumps supplies a wide range of chemical manufacturers safe, reliable and durable pumping options. Ixom has been a long-time customer of Global Pumps, working with the team to find solutions for some of the most corrosive chemical pumping known.
In this blog, we share a few of the pumps that Ixom have on site in Port Adelaide at their chemical plant, and how they’ve last handling some of the toughest chemicals.
Who are Ixom?
Ixom supplies manufactured chemicals and services, traded chemical products, and provides logistic solutions and products to the mining, oil and gas industries. Chemicals manufactured by Ixom are commonly used across industries, including those that produce and manufacture the food we eat, the water we drink and the utilities that we enjoy and add value to our lives.
Ixom’s product range covers the following industries:
- food, beverage and nutrition
- process cleaning technology
- personal care, health and household
- agriculture
- water treatment
- pulp & paper
- building & construction
- industrial
- plastics
- mining & metals
- oil & gas
Global Pumps & Ixom
Our team have provided a wide range of durable, reliable chemical pumps to Ixom site’s across Australia. We have worked closely with Dave Hodges from Ixom’s Obsorne site. Dave is Site Manager, and is responsible for the safe operation of their local site.
In a recent interview with Dave he discusses working with our team and the solutions we offered for Ixom’s harsh chemicals.
Chemical pumps suitable for Ixom’s harsh products
Global Pumps have provided a wide range of solutions for Ixom, all specifically designed to handle the harsh nature of the chemicals.
# 1 Tough pumping challenge
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- chemical: 15% caustic
- flow rate: 466 L/minute
- head: 12 m
Solution: Techniflo Magnetic Drive Pump, 505PW-C.FV
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as caustic soda or lye, is used to manufacture everyday products such as paper, aluminum, commercial drain and oven cleaners and soap and detergents. However, due to its strong corrosive qualities, exposure to caustic can cause skin and eye irritation. If ingested it can also burn the lips, tongue, throat, stomach and ultimately, cause death.
With these characteristics in mind, it was critical that a pumping solution would provide the safe transfer of caustic. The pump also had to guarantee leak-free operation, as well as offer corrosion resistance and high flows.
Global Pumps suggested the Techniflo Magnetic Drive Pump 505Pw-C.FV with ETFE wetted parts and cast iron outer shell. These centrifugal pumps offer heavy duty materials of construction for extreme chemical resistance.
#2 Tough pumping challenge
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- chemical: 98% sulphuric acid
- flow rate: 300 L/minute
- head: 12 m
Solution: Techniflo Magnetic Drive Pump, 403PW-C.FV
Sulphuric acid is a colourless, odourless and viscous liquid, and in its purest form is highly corrosive towards other materials. Upon contact, sulphuric acid can cause severe chemical burns and even secondary thermal burns due to dehydration. It’s important to note that even small amounts of the pure acid is dangerous.
Sulphuric acid is commonly used in fertilizer manufacture, but is also critical in mineral processing, oil refining, wastewater processing and chemical synthesis.
Given the corrosive composition and fact that the pump has to handle 98% sulphuric acid, it was critical that the materials of construction were appropriate.
Global Pumps offered the Techniflo Magnetic Drive Pump 403PW-C.FV with ETFE wetted parts and a cast iron outer shell. This construction, as per the caustic solution, provided the heavy-duty characteristics required to withstand the nature of the sulphuric acid.
How are the pumps performing today?
The pumps are still installed on site at Ixom, Osborne. Initially, the customer was concerned with how long the pumps would last given the nature of the products being pumped and the harsh environment. However they have continued to perform effectively and efficiently - maintaining the integrity, safety and success of the plant.
Want to discover more tough chemical pumping options?
Get in touch with Global Pumps today! Our team have worked with chemical manufacturers for over forty years’, providing sound, reliable and tough solutions for the harshest of chemicals.
