Predictika · Sulfuric acid and oleum delivery orders

An AI sales agent's sulfuric acid delivery order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an order for Ecoservices virgin sulfuric acid or oleum: the grade, the delivery by tank truck, tank car or barge, and how the customer will unload and store it. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of Ecovyst's published Sulfuric Acid and Oleum handbooks and returns a verdict and every reason.

Scope: Ecoservices virgin sulfuric acid (70, 78, 93, 93 lead acid battery grade, 98 percent) and oleum: delivery by tank truck, tank car or barge, unloading, storage and transfer piping. See everything this validator covers

This validator models delivery orders for the Ecoservices virgin sulfuric acid grades and oleum listed on the Ecovyst website, using the rules in the Ecovyst Sulfuric Acid and Oleum handbooks, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Products and delivery — 70, 78, 93, 93 lead acid battery grade and 98 percent sulfuric acid, and oleum (up to 65 percent free sulfur trioxide), delivered by tank truck, tank car or barge.
  • Unloading — quick disconnect fittings (prohibited), flexible hose length (20 feet at most), a safety shower and eye wash at the unloading point, unloading pressure, dry air or nitrogen, hose type, gaskets and the double block and bleed valve.
  • Storage and piping — underground tanks, internal heating, venting and grounding, the handbook sizing rule (10 days of supply or 1.5 times the delivery, whichever is larger), anodic protection or phenolic lining, plastic tanks, liquid velocity in carbon steel or stainless steel pipe, oleum pump seals and vents.
  • Sent to a person — where the handbooks say “should” or “recommended” rather than “must” or “prohibited”, the order goes to a person to confirm instead of being blocked.

Any order for these products that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (Ecovyst publishes none, so this validator produces no price build-up or itemized list), spent acid regeneration and treatment services, Chem32, catalyst products, liquid aluminum sulfate, rules that exist only in the handbooks' charts and tables (corrosion rates, freezing points), and tank car or truck specifications.

The AI sales agentBuilds the delivery order from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
The handbook storage sizing ruleOnly with care
The minimum is 10 days of supply or 1.5 times the delivery, whichever is larger; it needs a computed value and a rule that compares the stated figure with it, kept in step with the handbook.		The minimum is computed from the order and compared with the agent's stated figure and with the tank on every call.
Rules that depend on grade, delivery mode and the customer's own plantOnly with workarounds
The conditions are in the customer's plant, not in a product catalog, so they end up as many separate validation rules per grade and mode that someone must keep in step with the handbook.		The grade, mode and plant set-up are part of one request and every rule is checked together.
“Must” versus “should”Only with workarounds
Errors and warnings are usually one level; sending the “should” items to a person while blocking the “must” items takes extra rule types and approval wiring.		Blocks and items for a person come back together, each with its reason.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the order is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the order; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The oleum strength on the order is 66 percent free sulfur trioxide; the Ecovyst handbook covers oleum up to 65 percent.
2An oleum order needs its strength as percent free sulfur trioxide; the order gives 0 percent.
3There is no operable safety shower and eye wash station near the unloading point; the Ecovyst handbook requires one, nearby and clearly marked.
4The unloading connection uses quick disconnect fittings such as Camlock or Dixon; the Ecovyst handbook prohibits them.
5The unloading hose is 21 feet long; the Ecovyst handbook allows a flexible hose of at most 20 feet.
6The storage tank is underground; the Ecovyst handbook says underground tanks should never be used for sulfuric acid.
7The Ecovyst oleum handbook says oleum tanks should be above ground and grounded; the tank on the order is not; a person should confirm.
8The tank is heated by internal elements; the Ecovyst handbook says internal heating must not be used.
9The storage tank is not vented at its highest point; the Ecovyst handbook says all storage tanks must be vented there.
10The metal storage tank is not grounded; the Ecovyst handbook says metal storage tanks must be grounded.
11The storage tank is plastic, FRP or composite; the Ecovyst handbook says these should be used with caution and need stringent construction specifications and qualified manufacturers; a person should confirm.
12The oleum pump has a mechanical seal of carbon or graphite; the Ecovyst handbook says carbon and graphite must not be used for seal material because sulfur trioxide attacks them.
13The oleum pump has a mechanical seal; the Ecovyst oleum handbook says sealless pumps are recommended and mechanical seals can be used with caution; a person should confirm.
14The order states a minimum storage requirement of 37.5 tons; the handbook sizing rule of 10 days of supply or 1.5 times the delivery, whichever is larger, gives 200 tons.
15The storage tank holds 199 tons; the Ecovyst handbook says to size storage for at least 10 days of supply or 1.5 times the delivery, whichever is larger, which is 200 tons; a person should confirm.
16The tank for this 93 to 98 percent acid has neither anodic protection nor a baked phenolic lining; the Ecovyst handbook recommends anodic protection for 93 to 99 percent acid and baked phenolic lining for 90 to 98 percent acid; a person should confirm the tank design.
17The customer plans to dilute by adding water directly to the acid; the Ecovyst handbook says as a rule acid should be poured into the water, and to consult Ecovyst before large scale dilution; a person should confirm.
18The transfer piping would run at 3.06 feet per second; the Ecovyst handbook limits this pipe material to 3 feet per second except for intermittent service under special conditions; a person should confirm.
19The transfer piping would run at 30.64 feet per second; the Ecovyst handbook limits this pipe material to 6 feet per second except for intermittent service under special conditions; a person should confirm.
20The air or nitrogen used for unloading does not have a dew point below minus 40 degrees F; the Ecovyst handbook says it should, to avoid weak acid and high corrosion rates; a person should confirm.
21The tank truck is unloaded at 35 psig; the Ecovyst handbook says the regulator should be set at a maximum of 30 psig; a person should confirm.
22The tank car is unloaded at 55 psig; the Ecovyst handbook says there should be no need to pressurize a tank car above 50 psig; a person should confirm.
23The unloading hose is chlorosulfonated polyethylene; the Ecovyst handbook says this hose has been used for sulfuric acid up to 93 percent only; a person should confirm.
24The oleum unloading hose is stainless steel braided TFE; the Ecovyst oleum handbook says it should be used with caution because sulfur trioxide permeates the liner and attacks the braid; a person should confirm.
25The connection uses virgin TFE gaskets; the Ecovyst handbook says they are not recommended because of cold flow and recommends filled or reinforced TFE; a person should confirm.
26The flexible hose connection has no double block valve with a bleeder valve between the two; the Ecovyst handbook says there should be one; a person should confirm.
27The oleum tank vent goes to the atmosphere; the Ecovyst oleum handbook says storage and process vents should be directed to a scrubber or oleum vent package; a person should confirm.
28The unloading hose is 30 feet long; the Ecovyst handbook allows a flexible hose of at most 20 feet.
29The order states a minimum storage requirement of 150 tons; the handbook sizing rule of 10 days of supply or 1.5 times the delivery, whichever is larger, gives 400 tons.
30The storage tank holds 300 tons; the Ecovyst handbook says to size storage for at least 10 days of supply or 1.5 times the delivery, whichever is larger, which is 400 tons; a person should confirm.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Storage tank: A 98 percent sulfuric acid delivery by tank car to a heated underground tank

    
The agent's request. Please arrange delivery of 100 tons of Ecoservices 98 percent sulfuric acid by tank car. The customer uses about 40 tons a day and has a 300 ton carbon steel storage tank. The order states a minimum storage requirement of 150 tons. Unloading is through a flanged connection with no hose, at 40 psig, with transfer piping at 100 gallons per minute in 3 inch pipe. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Underground storage tank. The storage tank is underground; the Ecovyst handbook says underground tanks should never be used for sulfuric acid.
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  • Internal heating elements in the tank. The tank is heated by internal elements; the Ecovyst handbook says internal heating must not be used.
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  • Tank not vented. The storage tank is not vented at its highest point; the Ecovyst handbook says all storage tanks must be vented there.
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  • Stated storage requirement does not match. The order states a minimum storage requirement of 150 tons; the handbook sizing rule of 10 days of supply or 1.5 times the delivery, whichever is larger, gives 400 tons.
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  • Storage tank smaller than the handbook sizing. The storage tank holds 300 tons; the Ecovyst handbook says to size storage for at least 10 days of supply or 1.5 times the delivery, whichever is larger, which is 400 tons; a person should confirm.
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  • No anodic protection or phenolic lining on a strong-acid tank. The tank for this 93 to 98 percent acid has neither anodic protection nor a baked phenolic lining; the Ecovyst handbook recommends anodic protection for 93 to 99 percent acid and baked phenolic lining for 90 to 98 percent acid; a person should confirm the tank design.
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2. Storage tank: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please arrange delivery of 100 tons of Ecoservices 98 percent sulfuric acid by tank car. The customer uses about 40 tons a day and has a 300 ton carbon steel storage tank. Unloading is through a flanged connection with no hose, at 40 psig, with transfer piping at 100 gallons per minute in 3 inch pipe. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Storage tank smaller than the handbook sizing. The storage tank holds 300 tons; the Ecovyst handbook says to size storage for at least 10 days of supply or 1.5 times the delivery, whichever is larger, which is 400 tons; a person should confirm.
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  • No anodic protection or phenolic lining on a strong-acid tank. The tank for this 93 to 98 percent acid has neither anodic protection nor a baked phenolic lining; the Ecovyst handbook recommends anodic protection for 93 to 99 percent acid and baked phenolic lining for 90 to 98 percent acid; a person should confirm the tank design.
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  • Order summary. Delivery of 100 tons per load; the handbook sizing rule gives a minimum storage of 400 tons; transfer velocity 4.54 feet per second.
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3. Storage tank: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please arrange delivery of 100 tons of Ecoservices 98 percent sulfuric acid by tank car. The customer uses about 40 tons a day and has a 450 ton carbon steel storage tank. The order states a minimum storage requirement of 400 tons. Unloading is through a flanged connection with no hose, at 40 psig, with transfer piping at 100 gallons per minute in 3 inch pipe. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. Delivery of 100 tons per load; the handbook sizing rule gives a minimum storage of 400 tons; transfer velocity 4.54 feet per second.
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4. Unloading: A 93 percent sulfuric acid delivery by tank truck

    
The agent's request. Please arrange delivery of 25 tons of Ecoservices 93 percent sulfuric acid by tank truck. The customer uses about 12 tons a day and has a 150 ton carbon steel storage tank. The order states a minimum storage requirement of 120 tons. Unloading is through a quick disconnect fitting with a stainless steel flexible hose of 25 feet, at 20 psig, with transfer piping at 100 gallons per minute in 3 inch pipe. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • No safety shower and eye wash at the unloading point. There is no operable safety shower and eye wash station near the unloading point; the Ecovyst handbook requires one, nearby and clearly marked.
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  • Quick disconnect fittings. The unloading connection uses quick disconnect fittings such as Camlock or Dixon; the Ecovyst handbook prohibits them.
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  • Hose longer than 20 feet. The unloading hose is 25 feet long; the Ecovyst handbook allows a flexible hose of at most 20 feet.
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5. Unloading: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please arrange delivery of 25 tons of Ecoservices 93 percent sulfuric acid by tank truck. The customer uses about 12 tons a day and has a 150 ton carbon steel storage tank. The order states a minimum storage requirement of 120 tons. Unloading is through a hammer union connection with a stainless steel flexible hose of 18 feet, at 20 psig, with transfer piping at 100 gallons per minute in 3 inch pipe. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. Delivery of 25 tons per load; the handbook sizing rule gives a minimum storage of 120 tons; transfer velocity 4.54 feet per second.
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6. Oleum: A 30 percent oleum delivery by tank truck

    
The agent's request. Please arrange delivery of 25 tons of Ecoservices 30 percent oleum by tank truck. The customer uses about 6 tons a day and has a 100 ton carbon steel storage tank. The order states a minimum storage requirement of 60 tons. Unloading is through a flanged connection with no hose, at 20 psig, with transfer piping at 100 gallons per minute in 3 inch pipe. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Carbon or graphite pump seal on oleum. The oleum pump has a mechanical seal of carbon or graphite; the Ecovyst handbook says carbon and graphite must not be used for seal material because sulfur trioxide attacks them.
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  • Oleum vents not directed to a scrubber. The oleum tank vent goes to the atmosphere; the Ecovyst oleum handbook says storage and process vents should be directed to a scrubber or oleum vent package; a person should confirm.
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7. Oleum: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please arrange delivery of 25 tons of Ecoservices 30 percent oleum by tank truck. The customer uses about 6 tons a day and has a 100 ton carbon steel storage tank. The order states a minimum storage requirement of 60 tons. Unloading is through a flanged connection with no hose, at 20 psig, with transfer piping at 100 gallons per minute in 3 inch pipe. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. Delivery of 25 tons per load; the handbook sizing rule gives a minimum storage of 60 tons; transfer velocity 4.54 feet per second.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares an order for Ecoservices virgin sulfuric acid or oleum: the grade, the delivery by tank truck, tank car or barge, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of Ecovyst's published Sulfuric Acid and Oleum handbooks and returns a verdict and every reason.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please arrange delivery of 100 tons of Ecoservices 98 percent sulfuric acid by tank car. The customer uses about 40 tons a day and has a 300 ton carbon steel storage tank. The rest of the request is on screen. The order states a minimum storage requirement of 150 tons.
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  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with four findings and two approvals, all in one answer. The storage tank is underground; the Ecovyst handbook says underground tanks should never be used for sulfuric acid. The tank is heated by internal elements; the Ecovyst handbook says internal heating must not be used. The storage tank is not vented at its highest point; the Ecovyst handbook says all storage tanks must be vented there. The other one is on screen.
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  6. The validator returned four blocking findings and two approvals in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the order are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for the handbook storage sizing rule, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the tank position to above, the tank heating to external and the tank vented to yes. It removes the stated minimum storage.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. Not blocked, but held for a person.
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  12. The four blocking findings are cleared; two approvals remain for a person: storage tank smaller than the handbook sizing and no anodic protection or phenolic lining on a strong-acid tank.
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  13. The agent resubmits once more.
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  14. The revised request. It changes the storage tank to 450 and the tank protection to anodic protection. It sets the stated minimum storage to 400.
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  15. It calls the validator once more.
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  16. This time the validator clears it.
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  17. Both earlier findings are cleared.
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  18. Six problems caught in one call, fixed in two passes, and a clean order. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    19.