Aluminum Chloride Storage — AlCl3 Catalyst + Coagulant Tank Selection
Storing Aluminum Chloride Solution? Start Here
Aluminum chloride solution (about 28–30%, used as a coagulant) is strongly acidic and chloride-rich — which is exactly why a poly tank is the right call: it shrugs off the acidity and chloride that pit stainless and dissolve steel. (Note: the dry anhydrous powder is a different, water-reactive material — this page is about the liquid.)
Can you store it in a poly tank? Yes — it's the standard.
The solution (pH ~2) is resisted by XLPE/HDPE, FRP, and fluoropolymers, while it aggressively pits stainless and corrodes carbon steel and galvanized. The industry-standard setup is a 1.9 SG XLPE tank in concrete (acid-coated) containment, with EPDM gaskets (plan to replace manway gaskets ~yearly due to the low pH), PVC/CPVC piping, no bare metal on wetted parts.
The safety that actually matters
- Strongly acidic — severe burns; full PPE, eyewash/shower, 110% acid-resistant containment.
- No metal on wetted parts — chloride pits stainless; keep it poly/PVC.
Common questions
- Poly or stainless for aluminum chloride?
- Poly (XLPE) — the acidic chloride solution pits stainless and corrodes steel. A 1.9 SG XLPE tank is the standard.
- How often replace gaskets?
- About yearly on the manway — the low pH is hard on EPDM over time.
Aluminum Chloride storage tanks from OneSource
For aluminum chloride storage, specify HDLPE_OR_XLPE rated to specific gravity 1.9. Verified, compatibility-matched options:
- Snyder Industries 22 Gallon ASTM XLPE Black Heavy Duty Vertical Storage Tank (1.9 SG)
- Snyder Industries 150 Gallon XLPE Chemical Feed Station Tank (1.9 SG)
- Snyder Industries 500 Gallon ASTM XLPE Black Double Wall Tank (1.9 SG)
- Snyder Industries 1500 Gallon 45 Degree XLPE Cone Bottom Tank in White (1.9 SG)
- Snyder Industries 5000 Gallon XLPE Vertical Liquid Storage Tank with ASTM Certification (1.9 SG)
Confirm chemical compatibility and a ZIP freight quote with our team at 866-418-1777.
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.
- PubChem Compound Database — entry for Aluminum Chloride (CID 24012, CAS 7446-70-0). pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Library of Medicine / NCBI. Canonical chemical-identity reference.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards — occupational exposure limits, PPE, and IDLH data for Aluminum Chloride. cdc.gov/niosh/npg. CDC / NIOSH chemical-specific occupational-safety reference.