Selecting, Handling and Maintaining IBCs

A number of factors are involved in selecting the right intermediate bulk container (IBC). An overview is presented here An intermediate bulk container (IBC) is a large package for transporting chemicals into a plant or products from the plant. IBCs display different properties and must fulfill various functions. The selection of a suitable IBC to transport a particular product must always be determined based on the properties of the goods to be conveyed. The type of IBC that is used can be determined according to the requirements of the substances and mixtures involved. That means the properties and requirements of a chemical or product will specify both a container’s quality and the associated equipment (Figure 1). Figure 1. IBCs come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and can have additional equipment attached, such as valves and couplings[/caption] The numerous characteristics that various products may show yield a series of criteria that must be examined carefully before selecting the correct IBC. One important example is the product’s toxicity and its general environmental risk. The requirements that a package must fulfill can be defined based on these properties. Based on them, either an appropriate standardized IBC model…