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Acetone Storage — Propan-2-one Solvent Tank Selection

Storing Acetone? Start Here

Acetone is the universal solvent — and unlike most solvents, polyethylene actually handles it well (it dissolves PVC and many rubbers, but polyolefins resist it). So a poly tank works for small-to-medium acetone storage. The dominant concern isn't the tank, it's that acetone is highly flammable.

Can you store it in a poly tank? Yes — HDPE/XLPE.

Acetone is compatible with HDPE, XLPE, and polypropylene for small-to-medium volumes. (Don't use PVC — acetone dissolves it.) Use EPDM gaskets, not Buna-N. The binding constraints are fire rating and temperature, not material attack.

The safety that actually matters

  • Highly flammable (flash point well below freezing) — this is the whole game. Bonding/grounding for transfer, no ignition sources, proper fire-rated location.
  • Vapor is heavier than air — keep it out of pits and low spaces.
  • EPDM gaskets, PVC fittings avoided (acetone attacks PVC), 110% containment.

Common questions

Poly OK for acetone? It's a solvent.
Yes — polyethylene resists acetone (unlike PVC and many rubbers). HDPE/XLPE for small-to-medium volumes.
What gaskets?
EPDM. Avoid Buna-N and PVC components — acetone attacks them.
Biggest risk?
Flammability — ground/bond transfers, no ignition sources, keep vapor out of low areas.

Acetone storage tanks from OneSource

For acetone storage, specify HDLPE_OR_XLPE rated to specific gravity 1.9. Verified, compatibility-matched options:

Confirm chemical compatibility and a ZIP freight quote with our team at 866-418-1777.

Flammable solvent? Think recovery, containment, and grounding.

Flammable and volatile solvents add recovery, vapor, and ignition-control questions on top of material choice. Guides from our fabrication team:

Explore: Solvent Recovery  ·  Double Wall Tanks  ·  Chemical Compatibility

Sources & References

All compatibility ratings, hazard classifications, and chemical identifiers on this page are sourced from authoritative third-party publications. Verify against the original references before final specification.

  1. PubChem Compound Database — entry for Acetone (CID 180, CAS 67-64-1). pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Library of Medicine / NCBI. Canonical chemical-identity reference.
  2. Snyder Industries Chemical Resistance Recommendations — system-of-construction guidance for polyethylene chemical-storage tanks at industrial ASTM 1.9 SG design rating. SNY-3041 Chemical Resistance Chart. Snyder Industries, current edition. Resin + fitting + gasket + bolt MOC matrix.
  3. Equistar Technical Tip — Chemical Resistance of Polyethylene — LDPE / MDPE / HDPE rating chart by concentration and temperature, distributed by Enduraplas. enduraplas.com (PDF). Equistar polyethylene resin chemical-resistance data, distributed via Enduraplas.
  4. NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. nfpa.org. NFPA 704 'fire diamond' health/flammability/instability/special-hazard rating system (0–4 scale).
  5. UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), current revision. unece.org/transport/ghs. GHS pictograms, signal words, and H-statement codes referenced in this guide.
  6. ASTM D1998 — Standard Specification for Polyethylene Upright Storage Tanks, current edition. astm.org. Cited as the design-specific-gravity standard (typically 1.9 SG) for industrial chemical-service polyethylene tanks.
  7. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards — occupational exposure limits, PPE, and IDLH data for Acetone. cdc.gov/niosh/npg. CDC / NIOSH chemical-specific occupational-safety reference.

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