Storage Tank — Acids
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LibertyCES has documented Storage Tank in Acids service, including Sulfuric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid and Hydrofluoric Acid. Wetted materials to confirm: XLPE, PVDF/316SS and CPVC. Documented models include Poly Processing SAFE-Tank/IMFO and Snyder Vertical/Horizontal Tanks. Compatibility depends on exact concentration, temperature and duty cycle, so confirm with a free spec review.
Notes from the vendor documentation
Sulfuric acid is the only chemistry with an unconditional secondary-containment mandate per Poly Processing; PE itself fails at 98%+ concentration/fuming form.
Materials documented for this service
- XLPE (recommended over LPE)
- PVDF/316SS (above 70%/100F for H2SO4)
- CPVC
Products cited for this service
Real Specifications
| Spec | Value | Source document |
|---|---|---|
| Sulfuric acid — PVC fitting limit | PVC fittings acceptable only up to 70% concentration; CPVC, PVDF, or 316SS required above 70% | Peabody Engineering — General Product Catalog (July 2026) |
| Sulfuric acid — max service temperature | Not recommended above 100°F | Peabody Engineering — General Product Catalog (July 2026) |
| Sulfuric acid — PE chemical-resistance limit | Polyethylene rated Not Resistant (N) at 98% concentration and in fuming form; at 96% PE is resistant but capped to a 70°F max temperature | Ace Roto-Mold — Application Guidelines (Doc WIC8.4-01, 12-2024) |
| Sulfuric acid tank-size ceiling (no engineering review) | Any tank under 11,000 gallons and under 15 feet tall qualifies for sulfuric acid service (Sloped IMFO, IMFO, Vertical, SAFE-Tank systems) | Poly Processing — Chemical-Specific Storage Guidance |
| HCl tank warranty tiering | XLPE with OR-1000 system carries a 5-year warranty; XLPE alone carries a 3-year warranty | Poly Processing — Chemical-Specific Storage Guidance |
| Sulfuric acid dedicated resin | Snyder Vertical/Horizontal tanks offer a dedicated sulfuric-acid resin formulation (#880046) | Snyder Industries — Industrial Tanks & Fittings |
Poly Processing states, verbatim, that a "containment tank is required with this chemical in all applications" for sulfuric acid — the only chemistry in their storage guidance with an unconditional secondary-containment mandate. For HCl, Peabody requires venting to a scrubbing system rather than a standard vent, since noxious fumes will otherwise attack surrounding equipment.
A single acid family spans wildly different material requirements by concentration alone — PVC fittings that are fine at 70% sulfuric acid become a leak point above it, and at 98%+ polyethylene itself stops being chemically resistant regardless of temperature. James Riggins specs sulfuric acid tanks against verified concentration and temperature together, not against "sulfuric acid" as a single catalog line item.
Every material and product claim on this page traces to real, vendor-published documentation on file with LibertyCES. Chemical compatibility depends on exact concentration, temperature, and duty cycle — confirm current specifications with the manufacturer and request a spec review before final specification.
FAQ
Can Storage Tank handle Acids?
Sulfuric acid is the only chemistry with an unconditional secondary-containment mandate per Poly Processing; PE itself fails at 98%+ concentration/fuming form.
What wetted materials should Storage Tank use in Acids service?
Materials documented for this service: XLPE (recommended over LPE), PVDF/316SS (above 70%/100F for H2SO4), CPVC. Compatibility depends on exact concentration, temperature and duty cycle, so confirm with a spec review before final specification.
Which Acids chemicals does this cover?
Named chemicals in this documentation: Sulfuric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid, Hydrofluoric Acid.
Which Storage Tank models are documented for Acids?
Documented examples include Poly Processing SAFE-Tank/IMFO, Snyder Vertical/Horizontal Tanks (resin #880046), Peabody ProChem, Ace Roto-Mold Vertical Tanks.
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Reviewed by James Riggins, 30+ years specifying water and chemical process equipment · Updated