Storing 28% Acetic Acid - Glass or Plastic?

Steve Goldstein · Aug 7, 2015

I'll be diluting some recently-acquired glacial acetic acid (HDPE bottle) to a more reasonable 28% "photo grade" dilution, which will create a lot more liquid volume. I have lots of glass bottles for my photo chemistry but no HDPE or other plastics except the original bottles that still hold my KRST and HC-110 concentrates. Is long-term storage in glass safe? Some types of household vinegar were historically sold in glass bottles, but that's at a lot lower concentration than 28%.

jeffreyg · Aug 7, 2015

Accidents happen and glass breaks. The concentrated acetic acid I've bought not for photography but for swimming pool chemistry has always been sold in "plastic". The stop bath for my darkroom has also been in "plastic".

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

bdial · Aug 7, 2015

I use plastic for doing this. Glass would be fine, but the acid would likely corrode the lid, and there is always the drop hazard.
The clean-up of a dropped glass bottle of any chemistry is not pleasant, BTDT, cleaning up 28% AA would be especially so, and you'd likely need a respirator.

Steve Goldstein · Aug 7, 2015

Good point about the cleanup. HDPE it is.

Gerald C Koch · Aug 7, 2015

You can also get shatter proof glass bottles. These are glass bottles coated with a flexible polymer which prevents the bottle from losing integrity if dropped.

Alan9940 · Aug 7, 2015

I've mixed my own 28% acetic acid and stored it in plastic Delta Datatainers for 40 years without a single issue.

Best regards,
AlanH

AgX · Aug 7, 2015

Glass, both Polyethylenes and Polypropylene are resistant to all grades of Acetic Acid.

David Lyga · Aug 8, 2015

I have stored glacial acetic acid in PET plastic for years with absolutely no problems. With PET plastic you should not store liquids that are intensely alkaline (like household bleach), as it softens the plastic to the point of breakage.

Storing 28% Acetic Acid - Glass or Plastic?

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