WHAT IS GASOLINE PHASE SEPARATION? Gasoline phase separation is the separation of three components: water, ethanol, and gasoline. Separation occurs when water enters a gasoline storage tank, usually an E 10 or E 15 blend (but it can happen in all blends of ethanol). The ethanol attacks the water. When the ethanol and water reach their saturation level, ethanol helps suspend the water throughout the tank, causing water to be found over most, if not the entire area of the tank. The water and ethanol will group together causing as many as three levels or phases found in the tank.
WHY DID IT HAPPEN TO MY TANK? In general, the storage tank at one point has, or is taking on water. This can happen over a very short period of time or over a long period. If water has entered the tank slowly by a small drip or seep, the water can set idle in the tank causing no harm, not reacting to the ethanol. Then either the tank received a delivery that stirred or mixed the water as the load was being dropped, or the amount of water got great enough that it met its saturation point with the ethanol.
HOW DO I CORRECT IT? Don't dispose of it!! We can fix it. Hazardous Waste Management Inc. has a process that will separate the water from the ethanol and the water can be removed from the tank and the gasoline leaving you with good gasoline in your tank. It is a three step process using chemicals, pumping and circulation to remove the water from the gasoline and the tank. Each tank is different in the way the phasing occurred, how much water it took on and starting % of ethanol; therefore our process is modified for each specific job. This process lets you keep the majority of the gasoline that you have already paid for, it eliminates costly disposal bills, and you do not have to pay to replace the product. Hazardous Waste Management Inc. (HWMI) is one of very few companies in the Midwest that can save your tank full of gasoline. The process takes only one day or less. There is minimum waste "water/ ethanol". The amount of waste depends on the volume of water that entered the tank. HWMI can purge lines, change filters and most often have you selling gasoline again the same day. We often like to work with your local or existing petroleum service company for supplies and hands-on service. HWMI provides gasoline phase separation services across the midwest including: Des Moines and all of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. For more information on our services or if you have any questions please feel free to contact us.