using alum. propane tanks

[stillhuman]

So I was wondering if someone knew anything about this. I have access to aluminum propane tanks, like the ones they use on fork trucks, they probably hold around the same volume as a keg, and I would like to use them for my home brew set-up in place of kegs because they are extremely available and very cheap. So I guess my question is; being that they held propane, is this going to contaminate anything? I would of course give the tank walls and good cleaning and sterilization, but I don't know how porous aluminum is and being that it was pressurized with propane if any significant propane traces could be soaked into the walls of the tank. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[day_trippr]

When you say "in place of kegs", do you mean to hold finished beer? If so, wouldn't the acidic beer react with the aluminum and leach aluminum salts into the brew?

Cheers!

 

[shortyjacobs]

Aluminum cans have plastic linings. As Day_tripper alludes to, I'm guessing your tanks don't....

 

[Lost]

They may make great kettles, I would not hesitate to use them for that purpose. Aluminum will make a fine kettle.

From the sound of it I don't think he plans to keg in them since there are other very affordable options that would work without modification (ie cornies and sankes).

 

[shortyjacobs]

OH, I get it, "in place of kegs [for making keggles to boil in]". Yeah, I'd say no worries. Any propane remnants should cook out in a cleansing boil, I'd bet.

 

[roadymi]

I'm in propane business. The odorant that they put in propane is called MERCAPTAIN....Spelling is probably way off. But it is nasty stuff and really hard to remove. I've ruined clothes from the stuff and then ruined washing machine trying to save the clothes. I wouldn't risk it to save a few bucks.

Typical F/L cyl holds around 9 gal FYI

 

[outside92129]

How cheap are they? Might be worth an experiment. In low concentrations you'll be fine, any little bit in the aluminum won't cause toxicity problems. I think if remove the aluminum oxide layer on the inside and reestablish the layer you should be good to go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanethiol

 

[Lost]

I'm in propane business. The odorant that they put in propane is called MERCAPTAIN....Spelling is probably way off. But it is nasty stuff and really hard to remove. I've ruined clothes from the stuff and then ruined washing machine trying to save the clothes. I wouldn't risk it to save a few bucks.

Typical F/L cyl holds around 9 gal FYI

But did you get the concentrate on your clothes or the diluted form found mixed with the gas in the tank?

I think you know what you're talking about but I think it's still worth a try. A good hot pbw soak and BKF scrub will remove anything but don't let the PBW sit overnight since the tank is aluminum.

 

[moose7710]

I don't know about getting the smell\chemicals out, but be real careful when cutting the top off. Make sure the tank is completely purged and filled with water or an inert gas.

 

[spazzy]

I'm in propane business. The odorant that they put in propane is called MERCAPTAIN....Spelling is probably way off. But it is nasty stuff and really hard to remove. I've ruined clothes from the stuff and then ruined washing machine trying to save the clothes. I wouldn't risk it to save a few bucks.

Typical F/L cyl holds around 9 gal FYI

Man if what you are talking about is what I've worked with in a biotech lab that stuff is gnarly.

Ive used beta-mercaptoethanol and a group member took it out of the hood, it took about a week for the lab to stop smelling like an army of skunks sprayed every inch of the lab