What is the recommended inerting material for a tank with a capacity of 100 gallons?

The recommended inerting material for a tank with a capacity of 100 gallons is dry ice. Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide that sublimates to form carbon dioxide gas, which can effectively displace oxygen in the tank. This is important for preventing combustion or explosions when dealing with flammable liquids, as it creates an inert atmosphere within the tank.

Using dry ice helps eliminate the risk of ignition by ensuring that the concentration of oxygen is kept low, which is essential in maintaining safety during the handling and storage of heating oil or similar substances. Other inerting materials, while they may serve some purpose, do not provide the same level of effectiveness in terms of displacing oxygen and managing flammability concerns.

For instance, water would introduce a risk of contamination and corrosion, while sand does not serve to displace oxygen in the tank. Compressed air could potentially introduce oxygen back into the environment and is not suitable for inerting purposes. Therefore, dry ice is the appropriate choice for safely inerting a tank of this capacity.