Chemical Tanker 1

Terminology: 2

CHEMICAL
TERMINOLOGY
 Terminology: 3

Organic Chemistry:

Compounds of Carbon exhibit different behavior to

compounds of other elements. Since these
compounds were originally obtained from living
things, or the remains of living things, this branch is
termed “Organic Chemistry”
 Terminology: 4

There are three basic key sources:

•Coal / Coal Tar

•Petroleum / Natural Gas / Crude Oil

•Plant Life
 Terminology: 5

Coal is treated by a process called carbonization,

from which we get crude coal gas. This is refined
into pure coal gas from which Aromatic
Hydrocarbons are produced – Benzene, Toluene,
Xylene and some Solvents

Coal Tar is also produced, from which a range of

fuels are distilled and Naphtha, Creosotes, Phenols,
Cresols and Cyclohexanol are made
 Terminology: 6

Natural Gas (Methane, Butane, Propane, etc) and

Crude Oil are distilled into Gasoline, Kerosene, Diesel
Oil and Heavy Fuel Oil – generally termed Saturated
Hydrocarbons

Through a process called “cracking”, Hydrocarbon

Gases (termed Unsaturated Hydrocarbons) are
created, leading to the production of Olefines, from
which we get Alcohols, Esters, Ethers, Ethylenes,
Styrenes and Solvents, and Acetylenes, from which we
get Alkynes, Acetic Acid, PVC and more Solvents
 Terminology: 7

Plant Life forms the principal source of

Carbohydrates (sugars, starches and cellulose), as
well as some specialized Hydrocarbons, such as
Turpentine and Natural Rubber (Latex), as well as
some detergents and soaps, Glycerin and Poly-
Glycols
 Terminology: 8

Inorganic Chemistry:

Basically compounds of all elements except Carbon

and Carbon Derivatives, this branch of chemistry
deals in techniques such as electrochemistry, Acid-
base reactions, Ceramics and Silicons

The range of Inorganic Chemicals we ship is smaller

in terms of number of products, but generally larger
in terms of volume
 Terminology: 9

Caustics (Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide), Brine

Solutions, eg: Calcium Bromide, Acids, eg: Sulphuric,
Phosphoric and Nitric, Nitrates and Chlorines are all
Inorganic Chemicals
 Terminology: 10

Customers such as Monsanto, Hoechst-Celanese,

UCC, Shell and Arco-Lyondell deal primarily in
Organic Chemicals, whilst DOW are the biggest in
terms of Inorganic Chemicals

It should be noted that Organic Chemistry and

Inorganic Chemistry frequently overlap and draw on
production techniques from each other
Diagram 11

Fatty
Acids /Alcohols

VegOils
Organic
Chem icals
Glycerines , poly-
Glycols

Carbohydrates

Soaps,
Detergents
Chlorinated
Solvents

Inorganic
Chem icals
 Terminology: 12

Specific Gravity - The ratio of the weight of a volume

of cargo to the weight of an equal volume of water

The water is commonly quoted at a “standard”

temperature, which may not be the same as the
temperature of the cargo, eg: SG = 0.982 @ 15oC/4oC
(In the petroleum industry however, the standard is
60oF/60oF)

Specific Gravity has been replaced in more modern

references by the term “Relative Density”
 Terminology: 13

Unless otherwise stated, SG is quoted in vacuum

 Terminology: 14

Density - The weight of a unit volume of cargo at a

given temperature

It may be expressed as g/ml, lbs/gall, etc and the

temperature is usually a standard

Unless otherwise stated, Density is quoted in

vacuum
 Terminology: 15

Litre Weight - The standard metric form of Density, in

common use virtually everywhere except the US
(although increasingly there too)

The significant feature of L/W is that it is usually

quoted in air, eg: LW = 0.9877 / 15oC
 Terminology: 16

There is a great deal of confusion between Specific

Gravity, Density and Litre Weight, particularly in the
US. Caution is required if you are trying to equate or
convert data
 Terminology: 17

Solubility - The maximum weight of a substance

which will dissolve in a given weight of water, ie: the
tendency to dissolve

In science, this is indicated by a percentage by

weight but, for our purposes, we tend to refer to
that tendency as “Complete” or “Partial” (Tank
Cleaning)

In the case of a liquid dissolving in another liquid,

the term Miscibility is commonly used
 Terminology: 18

Viscosity - The internal resistance of a liquid to flow

There are two kinds of viscosity - Dynamic

(Absolute) and Kinematic - it is the former we deal
in and the standard units are mPa.s (milli-Pascals /
second) or cP (centi-Poise)

We meet this statistic mostly in Tank Cleaning (Pre-

wash requirements)
 Terminology: 19

Viscosity can be influenced by the application of heat -

within certain limits, the higher the temperature, the
lower the viscosity. We deliberately discharge certain
cargoes (eg: Lubrizols) at specific high temperatures
in order to avoid the pre-wash cleaning requirement
which otherwise would apply
 Terminology: 20

Compatibility - The ability of two materials to

exist in close and permanent association for an
indefinite period

A factor that must always be considered when

stowing cargoes is the compatibility of the liquid
with the tank lining (coating)
 Terminology: 21

Stability - The tendency of a product to react

dangerously when exposed to conditions such as
increased temperature or shock
 Terminology: 22

Catalyst - A substance which accelerates a chemical

reaction

eg: Water Vapor is the catalyst in the oxidation of

iron (corrosion)

Cleaning chemicals are all catalysts

 Terminology: 23

Inhibitor - A “negative” catalyst, one which

retards, or slows down, a chemical reaction

Blended in during the manufacture of a liquid

chemical or afterwards as a powder additive to
prolong its active life or stability

Commonly added to Acrylates and Monomers

 Terminology: 24

Polymerization - A chemical reaction, commonly the

result of exposure to heat, which results in
solidification (or chemical bonding)

Monomers, such as Styrene, are particularly

susceptible to this reaction and the solidification of
Isocyanates from moisture is a similar reaction