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Can some of you chemists out there please advise?

I've been offered 2 drums which contained PVA glue.

If I peel away the remains of the glue & wash the drums well, will they be safe to use for water storage (to water food crops) or as planters?

I know, or at least think I do, that PVA glue is water soluble, so think that they will be safe. But as I didn't even take chemistry as an O Level, I thought it wise to check...

G'Day Ranter,

They should be OK to hold water for food crops or use as planters. The only issue might be a little bit of free VAM (vinyl acetate monomer) absorbed into the plastic drum, but this would be micro amounts and leave 'em open in the sun for a while and they shoudl be OK.

Nev

Ooh, peeling dried-on PVA glue. That's one of my favourite things to do. Can I come and help?

Chicky, you are really weird! Definitely my kind of people!

Nev

I used to make sure I got some on my hands when doing crafts JUST so I could peel it off afterwards

See, it's not just me! Thanks, Shirlz.

I reckon it's a deep-seated desire to return to the simple forbidden pleasure of having a crafty pick of a scab......... one of those childhood pleasures sadly absent when you enter boring old fartdom - few chances present for skinned knees these days!