Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) tanks can be a great choice for handling large volumes of free-flowing granules or powders. The food and beverage, chemicals and plastics, agriculture, mining, and pharmaceuticals industries often use IBC tank systems for efficiency. While it’s true IBC tanks offer a cost-effective, modular solution for transporting and discharging bulk materials, their rigid, gravity-fed design provides limited opportunities for material conditioning at the point of infeed. This makes material flowability a critical consideration.
Selecting the right materials for IBC tank systems results in reliable discharge performance from day one. Our detailed material guide shows how to maximise the many advantages of IBC tank systems, such as traceability, batch integrity, and handling multiple materials simultaneously without dedicated equipment lines.
The table below outlines a selection of materials considered to be well-suited for IBC discharging, based on their natural flow properties. Process integrators and plant engineers can use this as a practical reference for specifying equipment or designing process lines involving IBCs.
| Material | Application |
Average BD (kg/m³) |
Expected throughput (tph) |
Challenges |
Discharge recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) | Food additive, supplements, fortification | 700-800 | 0.5-2 | Fine crystalline powder with moderate dust potential. Should be kept dry to prevent caking. | Use a dust-tight vibratory hopper to prevent static/dust buildup and ensure flow while keeping the powder dry. |
| Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) | Food, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing | 1,000 | 15-20 | Fine powder, handles well in dry environments. | Use vibration; sealed discharge to limit dust. |
| Calcium carbonate | Plastics, pharmaceuticals, coatings | 950 | 18-22 | Fine powder, good flow if dry. | Wear-resistant hopper; dust control required. |
| Citric acid | Food, cleaning products, pharmaceuticals | 950 | 15-20 | Granular form preferred. | Dry handling; stainless contact; agitation if needed. |
| Cocoa powder | Confectionery, baking, beverages | 500-600 | 8-12 | Light, fine; needs dust control, combustible dust hazard. | Dust-tight hopper; explosion-rated if fine. |
| Dextrose monohydrate | Sweetener, fermentation, bulking agent, preservative | 800-900 | 15-20 | Crystalline, good flow. | Standard hopper with dust extraction. |
| Flour (wheat, corn, rice) | Bakeries, cereal, snacks | 500-650 | 5-10 | Tends to pack and bridge under compaction, combustible dust hazard. | Apply aeration pads or a vibratory bin activator to prevent bridging. |
| Gelatine powder | Confectionery, desserts, pharma | 650-720 | 0.5-2 | Hygroscopic when exposed to moisture. Free-flowing when completely dry. | Gentle vibration; keep container tightly closed and dry to prevent clumping. |
| Guar gum | Thickening agent, industrial applications | 1-5 | 550-650 | Gentle vibration; keep container tightly closed and dry to prevent clumping. | Gentle vibration; keep container tightly closed and dry to prevent clumping. |
| Gums (xanthan etc) | Stabiliser, thickener, emulsifier, personal care products | 400-700 | 0.5-3 | Readily absorb moisture and clump. Bridging and ratholing are common. | Equip the IBC hopper with a vibratory cone or mechanical agitator to prevent arching. |
| Lecithin (soy, sunflower) | Emulsifier, bakeries, supplements | 450-550 | 0.2-2 | Tendency to cake and form lumps due to residual oil content and hygroscopicity. | Use a mild vibratory pad or screw agitator to ensure flowability. |
| Maltodextrin | Powder drinks, thickeners | 400-600 | 10-15 | Hygroscopic, but flows well when dry. | Sealed hopper; dry air purge recommended. |
| Milk powder | Dairy, infant formula, confectionery, bakeries | 400-600 | 2-5 | Caking and bridging are major concerns. Known combustible and explosion hazard. | Vibratory discharge cone or aeration pads; control humidity and dust. |
| Natural flavours (spray-dried) | Beverages, snacks | 500-750 | 0.5-2 | Hygroscopic, may clump, dusty. | Sealed vibratory discharge; dry air purge to prevent clumping. |
| Salt (table, iodised, kosher) | Food, chemical industry | 1,200 | 22–26 | Excellent flow, minimal dust. | Standard discharge; use corrosion-resistant parts. |
| Spices and seasoning | Snacks, seasoning blends | 300-700 | 1-3 | Fine and cohesive. Can contain oils, making them sticky. Segregation can be a concern with blends. Dust/odour control. | Proper ventilation/filtration to contain dust and aroma and avoid moisture ingress. |
| Starch (corn, tapioca, potato) | Adhesives, food, pharma | 550–600 | 10-14 | Free-flowing but prone to dusting. Combustible dust hazard. | Explosion-safe system; use aeration if needed. |
| Sugar (granular) | Food and beverage | 850 | 20-25 | High throughput, minimal flow issues. Combustible dust hazard. | Standard flow; maintain dry, dust-controlled handling. |
| Whey protein | Nutritional products | 450-800 | 1-5 | Moderately cohesive, with dust explosion risk. Can have poor flow. | Maintain low humidity and proper dust venting. Use climate control and dust collection/explosion protection. |
| Yeast (active dry, instant) | Baking, fermentation, breweries | 600-900 | 0.2-1 | Free-flowing and does not readily pulverise. Hygroscopicity is primary concern. | Light vibration can encourage flow, but avoid excessive force that can create fines. |
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