HDPE · PVDF · Polypropylene
Sulfuric Acid Storage Tanks
Plastic tanks built for H2SO4 from 25 to 10,000 gallons, every one rated 1.9 or 2.2 specific gravity, with fittings and Viton® gaskets matched to your acid concentration.
Choose by concentration
The Right Tank Starts With Your Acid Strength
HDPE, polypropylene and PVDF each handle sulfuric acid differently. Find your concentration below.
Dilute acid
HDPE, polypropylene and PVDF tanks all rated Excellent. Every common fitting and gasket works.
Mid-strength acid
HDPE, polypropylene and PVDF all Excellent. Viton® gaskets Excellent; EPDM and Buna-N Good.
Concentrated acid
PVDF rated Excellent and HDPE rated Good. Polypropylene drops to Fair. Use PVDF fittings and Viton® gaskets.
Commercial grade
Above the range of our database. Call us before storing 93–98% acid so we can review your application.
Sulfuric acid tanks
Popular Tank Styles
Live sizes, dimensions and prices on every page. Every tank listed is rated 1.9 or 2.2 SG.
HDPE Vertical Tanks for Sulfuric Acid
Heavy-duty high-density polyethylene vertical tanks rated 1.9 and 2.2 specific gravity, the most economical way to store sulfuric acid up to 93%.
View tanks →100 – 10,000 gal · 33 sizesHDPE Double Wall Sulfuric Acid Tanks
A tank inside a tank.
View tanks →25 – 5,000 gal · 17 sizesPVDF Vertical Tanks for Sulfuric Acid
PVDF (Kynar®) tanks are rated Excellent for sulfuric acid from 1% to 93%, with the highest temperature and purity performance of any tank resin we mold.
View tanks →25 – 6,000 gal · 25 sizesPolypropylene Sulfuric Acid Tanks
Polypropylene tanks are rated Excellent for sulfuric acid up to 75% and handle continuous temperatures up to 200°F, a good fit for hot, dilute acid in plating and process lines.
View tanks →325 – 10,000 gal · 12 sizesHDPE Cone Bottom Tanks for Sulfuric Acid
Closed-top HDPE cone bottom tanks drain completely through the bottom outlet, so no acid is left behind when you empty the tank.
View tanks →25 – 10,000 gal · 65 sizesInsulated Sulfuric Acid Tanks
Highly concentrated sulfuric acid can freeze in cold weather.
View tanks →Our recommendation
Double Wall Tanks Contain Leaks and Fumes
The sealed outer tank captures a leak from the inner tank and keeps fumes from spilled acid inside. A containment dike can’t do that.
- HDPE double wall tanks from 100 to 10,000 gallons
- PVDF and polypropylene double wall tanks too
- Optional leak detector with alarm, strobe and PLC output
- No separate containment basin to build
Know your acid
Why Sulfuric Acid Needs a Special Tank
Sulfuric acid is dense, strongly corrosive and reacts with water, releasing heat. Dilute acid attacks most metals and can release hydrogen gas.
That’s why we build sulfuric acid tanks in plastic, list only heavy-duty 1.9 and 2.2 SG ratings, and match every fitting and gasket to the concentration. Independent ExxonMobil testing also found that linear HDPE holds up far better than crosslinked polyethylene in concentrated acid, and the HDPE tanks we mold are linear HDPE. Read the full sulfuric acid storage guide.
Data: PubChem CID 1118
Fittings & gaskets
Every Wetted Part Rated for Your Acid
A tank is only as good as its weakest fitting. We install fittings at our plant so they arrive ready to connect.
- Viton® gaskets rated Excellent from 1% to 93%
- PVDF fittings for concentrations above 75%
- Bulkheads and bolted flanges; no welded sidewall flanges in acid service
- Hastelloy hardware; no 316 stainless above 10%
- Insulation and heat tracing to keep concentrated acid from freezing. See insulated tanks
- Plan your pad and piping with our installation guide
Who stores sulfuric acid
Tanks for Every Industry That Uses H2SO4
Sulfuric acid is one of the world’s most important bulk chemicals. BASF, one of the largest producers, supplies it to the fibers, chemical, metalworking, leather and textile industries.
Fertilizer & agriculture
Bulk acid storage for fertilizer production and blending.
See tanks for this industry →≈Water & wastewater
pH adjustment and treatment chemical storage.
See tanks for this industry →⚙Metal finishing
Pickling, cleaning and electroplating lines.
See tanks for this industry →⌬Refining & chemicals
Petroleum refining and chemical processing.
See tanks for this industry →+Batteries
Electrolyte storage for lead-acid battery production.
See tanks for this industry →◎Semiconductors
Wet etching, at a standard 96% concentration.
See tanks for this industry →Uses from PubChem; producer information from BASF Bulk Chemicals.
FAQ
Sulfuric Acid Tank Questions
What is the best tank for sulfuric acid?
For most sulfuric acid storage, an HDPE tank rated 1.9 or 2.2 SG is the most economical choice; HDPE is rated Excellent to 75% and Good to 93%. For concentrated acid, PVDF (Kynar®) is rated Excellent from 1% to 93%. We recommend double wall tanks to contain leaks and fumes.
Why do sulfuric acid tanks need a 1.9 or 2.2 SG rating?
Concentrated sulfuric acid has a specific gravity of about 1.84, so it is much heavier than water. A tank must be rated at or above the specific gravity of its contents, so we list only 1.9 and 2.2 SG tanks.
Can I store sulfuric acid in a polypropylene tank?
Yes, up to 75% concentration, where polypropylene is rated Excellent and handles temperatures up to 200°F. Above 75% it drops to Fair, so use HDPE or PVDF.
What gaskets should I use with sulfuric acid?
Viton® is rated Excellent at every concentration from 1% to 93%. EPDM is Good above 10% and Buna-N drops to Fair above 75%.
Do you ship sulfuric acid tanks?
Yes. We mold and outfit tanks at our plant in Willis, Texas and ship them with fittings installed. Call 936-228-1520 for freight and lead time.
Are crosslinked polyethylene tanks good for sulfuric acid?
An ExxonMobil Chemical study found that crosslinked polyethylene became brittle within about 1,000 hours in 97% sulfuric acid, while linear HDPE kept most of its impact strength and elongation through 4,000 hours. HDPE tanks molded by Bailiff are linear HDPE, made from Dow RESILITY™ DPDB-3220 NT 7 or a comparable linear HDPE resin. Read the summary. A copy of the full study is available from Bailiff by email request: dmiller@plasticstoragetanks.com.
What is the warranty on a sulfuric acid tank?
Tanks used for sulfuric acid carry a limited one-year warranty from the date of manufacture, and fittings we install carry a one-year warranty. See warranty terms.
Tell Us Your Concentration
Send the acid concentration, temperature, volume and fittings you need. We’ll match the resin, SG rating and gaskets and send a quote.