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I just got two 25 or 30 gallon hdpe drums for free. But they had glycophasphate ( an herbiside) in them. My gut feeling is that they are a no go for fermenters. Am I right?

While it may be possible to clean them, it would scare me off.

Plastic drums used to be color coded as to what they were used for. But I know that is no longer true. Green used to be herbicide, but I've seen food in green lately.

Man I don't know Jed don't believe I would use em.I think it was Jimbo maybe not but they got a couple with soap in em
and after several cleanings the soapy taste came thru in the wash.

I did see that the one barrel has the information book taped/frozen to the top. I'm gonna try to get it open to read through it. If not google will be my friend.

Had the spelling wrong. Its glyphosate. Soon as the book thaws out I'm gonna hopefully give it a read.

jedneck; google first, then read the corporate paper. the claim is that glycophosphate breaks down rapidly in the soil to inert chemicals.

i don't tow the corporate line and would never use a container that had glyphosate previosly

your spelling was only one letter off.

Thats "round up" worked 10 years in the ag chemical world. Definitely dont use them please.

Unless somebody proves that they will be safe to use as fermentors they will be trash cans in the barn.

What about as rain barrels for a year or two, if it is round up you may be able to see the dilution based of effectiveness?

Jed you are smarter than to use those when there are plenty others to be found that did not contain poison!

ga flatwoods wrote:Jed you are smarter than to use those when there are plenty others to be found that did not contain poison!

I only need one poison in my drink. . The barn always needs another trash can.

Use alot of glystar an would not use em. Find you a liner
If you got to. We use ammonia to clean tanks but don't ever
use herbicides in fungicides tanks.

So I'm tole

I have access to drums, white #2 plastic that had DEF in them, would they be safe to use for fermation tanks?

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is an emissions control liquid required by modern diesel engines. It is injected into the exhaust stream. DEF is never added to diesel fuel. It is a non-hazardous solution of 32.5% urea in 67.5% de-ionized water.

urea
1.
Biochemistry. a compound, CO(NH 2)2, occurring in urine and other body fluids as a product of protein metabolism.
2.
Chemistry. a water-soluble powder form of this compound, obtained by the reaction of liquid ammonia and liquid carbon dioxide: used as a fertilizer, animal feed, in the synthesis of plastics, resins, and barbiturates, and in medicine as a diuretic and in the diagnosis of kidney function.

Deionized water (DI water, DIW or de-ionized water), often confused with demineralized water / DM water, is water that has had almost all of its mineral ions removed, such as cations like sodium, calcium, iron, and copper, and anions such as chloride and sulfate.

I guess if you want to take the chance that your ferment tastes like piss, go for it.
Edit... Sorry that was flippant. You might be able to clean them, but I don't know the taste seems to last in plastic. Maybe liners.

Bigbob wrote:I guess if you want to take the chance that your ferment tastes like piss, go for it.

Someone had to say it.

Used drums are pretty cheap. I know my local brew shop sells food grade drums that the malt comes in. Much safer than chemical drums.

The barrels are not safe - glyphosate is only safe to use on the food we eat ... It is used in the fields on corn - like the kind at TSC - so it ends up in the fermenter anyway - kind of ironic..

Lots of people use fertilizer that contains urea for the needed nitrogen, so a lot of washes must smell unpleasant. Check the obits I've instructed my heirs to include " from an undisclosed location".

I wouldn't recommend urea in a wash :-/