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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 either HDPE or crosslinked polyethylene (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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