Polyethylene tanks are popular in agriculture due to their lightweight, easy-to-position construction, cost-effectiveness, and better leak resistance compared to steel tanks. However, they are not suitable for storing all types of chemicals. Some chemicals have adverse reactions to the poly and may cause it to break down, leading to tank malfunction. So we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of suitable and unsuitable chemicals for your poly tank.
No Negative Effect
The following are chemicals that you can safely store in a poly tank without any fear of damage or degradation. These products are suitable for repeated and/or prolonged contact with polyethylene:
- Acetic Anhydride
- Alum Potassium Sulfate (Alum), 10%
- Antimony Trichloride
- Arsenic Acid
- Calcium Chlorate
- Copper Floborate
- Hydrochloric Acid 20%
- Hydrochloric Acid 37%
- Hydrochloric Acid 100%
- Hydrogen Peroxide 10%
- Oxalic Acid (Cold)
- Picric Acid
- Sodium Borate
- Sodium Sulfide
- Stannous Chloride
- Sulfur Chloride
Related Content: Buyers Guide: Poly Vertical Storage Tank
Minor Negative Effect
Certain chemicals react negatively with polyethylene, but at a slow enough rate that poly tanks can still be used to store them. However, extra consideration must be given to the storage conditions, including temperature, length of contact, and the concentration of the chemicals. Under controlled conditions, poly tanks still make a good choice for storing all of the following:
- Acetate Solv.
- Acetic Acid, Glacial
- Acetic Acid
- Alcohol, Amyl
- Alcohol, Butyl
- Alcohol, Ethyl
- Alcohol, Methyl
- Aluminum Chloride
- Aluminum Fluoride
- Alum Potassium Sulfate (Alum), 100%
- Aluminum Sulfate
- Ammonia, Anhydrous
- Ammonium Chloride
- Ammonium Hydroxide
- Ammonium Nitrate
- Ammonium Phosphate, Dibasic
- Ammonium Phosphate, Monobasic
- Ammonium Phosphate, Tribasic
- Ammonium Sulfate
- Amyl Alcohol
- Anti-Freeze
- Aromatic Hydrocarbons
- Barium Carbonate
- Barium Chloride
- Barium Cyanide
- Barium Hydroxide
- Barium Sulfate
- Benzoic Acid
- Borax (Sodium Borate)
- Boric Acid
- Calcium Bisulfide
- Calcium Carbonate
- Calcium Chloride
- Calcium Hydroxide
- Calcium Hypochlorite
- Calcium Sulfate
- Carbon Monoxide
- Carbonic Acid
- Chromic Acid 5%
- Citric Acid
- Copper Chloride
- Copper Cyanide
- Copper Nitrate
- Copper Sulfate (5% Sol)
- Detergents
- Diethylene Glycol
- Ethylene Glycol
- Fatty Acids
- Ferric Acid
- Ferric Nitrate
- Ferrous Chloride
- Ferrous Sulfate
- Fluoboric Acid
- Fluosilicic Acid
- Formaldehyde
- Formic Acid
- Glucose
- Glycolic Acid
- Hydrobromic Acid
- Hydrocyanic Acid
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Hydrogen Sulfide, Aqueous Solution
- Lactic Acid
- Lead Acetate
- Magnesium Carbonate
- Magnesium Chloride
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Magnesium Nitrate
- Magnesium Sulfate
- Mercurie Chloride (Dilute Solution)
- Mercuric Cyanide
- Mercury
- Nickel Chloride
- Nickel Sulfate
- Nitric Acid (10% Solution)
- Nitric Acid (20% Solution)
- Phosphoric Acid (to 40% Solution)
- Photographic (Developer)
- Potash
- Potassium Bicarbonate
- Potassium Bromide
- Potassium Carbonate
- Potassium Chlorate
- Potassium Chloride
- Potassium Chromate
- Potassium Cyanide Solutions
- Potassium Dichromate
- Potassium Ferrocyanide
- Potassium Hydroxide (50%)
- Potassium Nitrate
- Potassium Permanganate
- Potassium Sulfate
- Propylene Glycol
- Silver Nitrate
- Soap Solutions
- Sodium Acetate
- Sodium Cyanide
- Sodium Hydroxide (20%)
- Sodium Hypochlorite (to 20%)
- Sodium Nitrate
- Sodium Sulfate
- Sodium Sulfide
- Stannic Chloride
- Stearic Acid
- Sulfuric Acid (to 10%)
- Sulfurous Acid
- Tannic Acid
- Tartaric Acid
- Zinc Chloride
- Zinc Sulfate
Related Content: Enduraplas® vs 4,500 lb SUV
Moderate Negative Effect
The chemicals in this category tend to be significantly more reactive than those listed above. Yet poly tanks may still offer an acceptable storage choice under certain conditions. Generally speaking, the longer you store such chemicals in poly tanks, the greater the risk they pose. Short-term storage may be acceptable.
- Acetaldehyde
- Acetone
- Aniline
- Butane
- Butyl Acetate
- Chromic Acid 50%
- Cresylic Acid
- Ethyl Acetate
- Fluorine
- Hydrofluoric Acid 20%
- Hydrofluoric Acid 75%
- Nitric Acid (50% Solution)
- Phsophoric Acid (40-100% Solution)
- Phosphoric Acid (Crude)
- Pyridine
- Sodium Fluoride
- Sodium Hydroxide (50% Solution)
- Sodium Hydroxide (80% Solution)
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Sulfuric Acid 10%-75%
- Tallow
- Urine
- Vinegar
Related Product: Poly Vertical Storage Tank
Severe Negative Effect
Finally, here are the chemicals which are simply too reactive to be stored in poly tanks, no matter the circumstance:
- Alcohol, Benzyl
- Ammonia, Liquids
- Amyl-Acetate
- Amyl Chloride
- Aqua Regia (80%, HCl, 20%, HNO)
- Benzaldehyde
- Benzene
- Bromine(wet)
- Carbon Disulfide
- Carbon Tetrachloride
- Chloroacetic Acid
- Chlorine, Anhydrous Liquid
- Chlorobenzene (Mono)
- Chloroform
- Chlorosulfonic Acid
- Cresols
- Dichloromethane
- Ethyl Chloride
- Ethylene Dichloride
- Freon 11
- Freon 12 (wet)
- Fuel Oils
- Furfural
- Gasoline
- Heptane
- Hydrofluoric Acid 100%
- Iodine
- Kerosene
- Ketones
- Methyl Bromide
- Methyl Chloride
- Methyl Ethyl Ketone
- Methylene Chloride
- Naptha
- Naphthalene
- Nitric Acid (Concentrated Solution)
- Nitrobenzene
- Oleic Acid
- Phenol (Carbolic Acid)
- Phsphoric Anhydride (Molten)
- Stoddard Solvent
- Sulfur Dioxide (dry)
- Tetrahydrofuran
- Toluene, Toluol
- Trichloroethylene
- Turpentine
- Xylene
For more useful info about chemical storage tanks, visit to our YouTube channel or subscribe to our blog. To shop Enduraplas storage tanks, visit our tanks page. You also can find your local dealer on our website.