Looking for advice on Ethyl Acetate Storage

[WizardsGarden]

Hey Everyone,
I was reading through the MSDS on ethyl acetate and it recommends storing it in a location that is cool/room temperature, well ventilated, and away from pilot lights and not in a living quarters.

Seeing as how most garages are hot as shit during the summer and also tend to have pilot lights, how the hell do you store this stuff safely? It will only be a small amount.

I don’t want it in my house and now it looks like the garage is off limits. The only other option I can think of would be a smaller outdoor storage freezer that I would need to buy and keep in the side yard. Which is not ideal for me.

Looking for some suggestions from knowledgeable Nexians.

Thanks!

 

[Transform]

Hello and welcome to the Nexus!

How about getting, or indeed making, a passive beer cooler kind of arrangement, where you store the material in a hole in the ground? Lining the hole with a 5 gallon drum or larger might be a good starting point. Obviously, it requires a sensible lid of some kind as well.

Also, I'm interested to know what you perceive "pilot light" to mean, since I'm slightly perplexed by the notion that "most garages" have them.

 

[WizardsGarden]

Hello and welcome to the Nexus!

How about getting, or indeed making, a passive beer cooler kind of arrangement, where you store the material in a hole in the ground? Lining the hole with a 5 gallon drum or larger might be a good starting point. Obviously, it requires a sensible lid of some kind as well.

Also, I'm interested to know what you perceive "pilot light" to mean, since I'm slightly perplexed by the notion that "most garages" have them

Thanks. By most garages have them I was referring to most garages containing a gas water heater or furnace for the central heater. Maybe it’s a local thing but most homes around here have a gas powered water heater in the garage. Pilot light would be the flame that’s utilized to light the gas.

Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get a small fridge with a pad lock on it for solvents.

 

[Transform]

Thanks. By most garages have them I was referring to most garages containing a gas water heater or furnace for the central heater. Maybe it’s a local thing but most homes around here have a gas powered water heater in the garage. Pilot light would be the flame that’s utilized to light the gas.

Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get a small fridge with a pad lock on it for solvents.

Ah, thanks for clarifying - in my region the garages virtually never house the central heating boiler despite it being quite logically conceivable; one learns a new thing every day. [This is also quite funny since I did in fact consider putting my new boiler in the garage/outbuilding when it got replaced.]

Fridges used for storing solvents ought to be solvent-safe, that is, the electrics should be spark-free and there should be no risk of electrostatic discharge when opening the door. The flash point of EA is below the temperature of a refrigerator, so there would be a risk of an explosive atmosphere developing inside.

When using EA it would be necessary to allow it to warm up to ambient temperature before opening the bottle to minimise the formation of condensation, which would otherwise be a potential source of issues in an extraction if the EA were to become too moist.

 

[WizardsGarden]

Ah, thanks for clarifying - in my region the garages virtually never house the central heating boiler despite it being quite logically conceivable; one learns a new thing every day. [This is also quite funny since I did in fact consider putting my new boiler in the garage/outbuilding when it got replaced.]

Fridges used for storing solvents ought to be solvent-safe, that is, the electrics should be spark-free and there should be no risk of electrostatic discharge when opening the door. The flash point of EA is below the temperature of a refrigerator, so there would be a risk of an explosive atmosphere developing inside.

When using EA it would be necessary to allow it to warm up to ambient temperature before opening the bottle to minimise the formation of condensation, which would otherwise be a potential source of issues in an extraction if the EA were to become too moist.

Haha well maybe I think it’s more common than it is because most properties I have lived in have been small Locating those items in the garage is a space saver.

Regarding your comment on flash point. The MSDS lists the flash point as 25 C. So keeping the fridge at 15ish C or so in the warmer months should negate the risk of forming an explosive atmosphere no?

Is the concern that a fridge is not ventilated so if it were to malfunction you would be concentrating vapors in a confined space whereas storing it in a well ventilated area the vapors would diffuse and not lose a real danger?

I just figured if the container of the EA was already somewhat a confined space than putting it in a fridge wasn’t really making things worse especially if it is cold enough to prevent the EA from giving off vapors.

 

[Loveall]

Assuming you are using it for CIELO, do not store acidic (salted) extract back it its metal container. Citric acid will rust the can over time!

What I do is neutralize it (reclaim) right away and store it back in its original container. I keep it in a garage that gets pretty hot/cold in the summer/winter and never had an issue.

 

[Transform]

The MSDS lists the flash point as 25 C.

Hm, I've seen a value of -4°C which would correspond more closely to 25°F (this is backed up by multiple sources) so it may be worth checking that one. [mumbles something obscene about USA using obsolete units.] A refrigerator won't be cold enough, although you'd hope your container's lid was up to its job of keeping the contents in. Also, a hole in the ground would have lower running costs

 

[WizardsGarden]

Hm, I've seen a value of -4°C which would correspond more closely to 25°F (this is backed up by multiple sources) so it may be worth checking that one. [mumbles something obscene about USA using obsolete units.] A refrigerator won't be cold enough, although you'd hope your container's lid was up to its job of keeping the contents in. Also, a hole in the ground would have lower running costs

Ahhh you’re correct! 25 F. Thanks for the correction. No arguments from me about the stupidly of US units haha.

 

[WizardsGarden]

Assuming you are using it for CIELO, do not store acidic (salted) extract back it its metal container. Citric acid will rust the can over time!

What I do is neutralize it (reclaim) right away and store it back in its original container. I keep it in a garage that gets pretty hot/cold in the summer/winter and never had an issue.

Yes I was reasearching the CIELO tek and did see the section about reuse/nuetralizing solvents.

As far as storage risks it’s possible I’m overthinking this (wouldn’t be the first time!). I have seen several people online who simply keep it neutralized in the original comatinee in a garage or closet.

My original thought was outside in a locked vented cabinet in the shade but then I started worrying about temperatures. I would say my worse summer temps are around a week of 100 to 105 F and the lowest temps in winter might be low 20s F with occasional minimal snow. Really it seems summer would be the concern for excess vapors or overheating.

What is your approximate temperature range in the garage loveall?

 

[Loveall]

Yes I was reasearching the CIELO tek and did see the section about reuse/nuetralizing solvents.

As far as storage risks it’s possible I’m overthinking this (wouldn’t be the first time!). I have seen several people online who simply keep it neutralized in the original comatinee in a garage or closet.

My original thought was outside in a locked vented cabinet in the shade but then I started worrying about temperatures. I would say my worse summer temps are around a week of 100 to 105 F and the lowest temps in winter might be low 20s F with occasional minimal snow. Really it seems summer would be the concern for excess vapors or overheating.

What is your approximate temperature range in the garage loveall?

About 90f to 45F