Acetaldehyde (CH3CHO, CAS 75-07-0) is a colorless, extremely flammable liquid with a sharp, fruity odor. It has a specific gravity of about 0.79, boils at only 68°F (20°C) and has a flash point near -36°F (-38°C). It is used as a chemical intermediate for pyridines, pentaerythritol, peracetic acid and acetate esters, and in small amounts as a flavoring. Bulk acetaldehyde storage needs cool, vented, inerted tanks away from ignition sources. Use the compatibility ratings to choose the right tank resin, fittings and gaskets.
Polypropylene is the most economical tank material for Acetaldehyde, rated Excellent. Nylon is also rated Good or better. Avoid PVDF (Kynar®) tanks; PVC, CPVC and PVDF fittings; Buna-N and Viton® gaskets. Rated Fair (contact us before use): HDPE tanks and HDPE fittings.
How Acetaldehyde works with the plastics used to make our storage tanks.
| Material | Relative cost | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| HDPE $ | $$$$ | C Fair |
| Polypropylene $$ | $$$$ | A Excellent |
| Nylon $$$ | $$$$ | A Excellent |
| PVDF (Kynar®) $$$$ | $$$$ | D Not Recommended |
How Acetaldehyde works with the plastics used for tank fittings.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| HDPE | C Fair |
| PVC | D Not Recommended |
| CPVC | D Not Recommended |
| Polypropylene | A Excellent |
| PVDF | D Not Recommended |
How Acetaldehyde works with gasket and O-ring materials.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| Buna-N | D Not Recommended |
| EPDM | A Excellent |
| Viton® | D Not Recommended |
How Acetaldehyde works with the metals used for fittings and bolts.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| 316 Stainless Steel | A Excellent |
| Hastelloy | A Excellent |
| Titanium | A Excellent |
| Aluminum | — No Data |
Storing this chemical in polypropylene?
Polypropylene tanks from 25 to 6,000 gallons with polypropylene fittings installed. Confirm concentration and temperature with us before you order.
Send the chemical, concentration, temperature and size. We’ll match the tank and fittings and send a quote.