Product Overview
30% Vinegar is a 30% acetic acid solution (CAS 64-19-7) — a clear, colorless liquid with a sharp, pungent odor that identifies it immediately on any receiving dock. Classified as technical grade, this concentration delivers meaningful acidity for industrial pH control, cleaning, and chemical processing without the handling severity of higher-strength acetic acid. It ships as a Class 8 corrosive under UN2790 (per 49 CFR 172.101), and Alliance Chemical offers it in sizes from 1-quart bottles to 330-gallon totes.
Why This Concentration
At 30%, this acetic acid solution occupies a practical middle ground. It is strong enough to lower pH effectively in water treatment systems and dissolve mineral scale in cleaning applications, yet moderate enough relative to 50% Vinegar or 75% Vinegar that operators handle it with standard acid-rated PPE rather than the more stringent protocols higher concentrations demand. If your process calls for lighter acidity — slow pH trimming, dilute rinse baths — 10% Vinegar may be more appropriate and reduces corrosion risk to equipment. If you need a recognized analytical-grade designation, consider 75% Vinegar ACS Grade. For general-purpose industrial work — CIP loops, cooling-tower pH control, concrete etching, drain-line maintenance — 30% is an ideal working concentration.
Chemical Profile
This product is a 30% aqueous solution of acetic acid (molecular formula C2H4O2, molecular weight 60.05 g/mol, CAS 64-19-7). It presents as a clear, colorless liquid with a pungent odor characteristic of concentrated vinegar. The solution density is 1.039 at 20 °C. Acetic acid is fully miscible with water — solubility is greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 73 °F. Vapor pressure at 68 °F is 11.4 mmHg, rising to 20 mmHg at 86 °F, which means noticeable off-gassing in warm or enclosed environments. The product is liquid at ambient temperature.
Industrial Applications
30% acetic acid is a working-strength acid across a range of industrial processes:
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pH Adjustment in Water Treatment — Acetic acid lowers pH in cooling towers, boiler feedwater systems, and wastewater neutralization. At 30%, it feeds accurately through metering pumps and provides a controllable, moderate acid dose per unit volume for consistent pH control.
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Industrial Cleaning and Descaling — This concentration dissolves calcium carbonate, hard-water scale, and mineral deposits from heat exchangers, piping, and process equipment. It is a common choice for CIP (clean-in-place) circuits in facilities that prefer an organic acid over mineral acids like hydrochloric or phosphoric.
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Solvent in Chemical Processing — Acetic acid serves as a reaction solvent and acidifying agent in chemical manufacturing steps, including esterification and acetylation reactions where water-tolerant conditions allow a dilute acid feed.
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Buffering and pH Control in Laboratory Settings — Used to prepare acetate buffer systems that maintain stable pH in research and QC bench work. Technical grade suits non-analytical process development and formulation testing.
Handling & Storage
30% acetic acid carries a GHS signal word of Danger and the hazard statement H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage (per the product's GHS classification). Operators must wear chemical-splash goggles, face shield, acid-resistant gloves, and a chemical-resistant apron at minimum. In enclosed or poorly ventilated areas, vapor exposure warrants respiratory protection — the vapor pressure at room temperature (11.4 mmHg at 68 °F) means fumes build in warm or still conditions.
Store in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight. Use HDPE, polypropylene, or glass containers; acetic acid corrodes most common metals, including carbon steel, iron, and aluminum. Keep the product separated from strong oxidizing agents and strong bases, which react vigorously with acetic acid. Ensure adequate ventilation in the storage area and keep containers tightly sealed when not in use.
Hazmat & Shipping
This product is regulated as a hazardous material for transport. The shipping classification:
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UN Number: UN2790 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 8 — Corrosive (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: III (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Acetic acid solution, with more than 10 percent and less than 50 percent acid, by mass (per 49 CFR 172.101)
All shipments are prepared with proper DOT hazmat placarding, labeling, and shipping documentation. Alliance Chemical's shipping team handles Class 8 corrosives daily from our Taylor, TX facility.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order and is available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is also available for this product. Lot-specific Certificates of Analysis (COA) can be requested to verify the product meets your receiving specifications.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
This product is available to order from quart bottles through 330-gallon totes — a packaging range that covers bench trials through continuous-process operations without switching suppliers. Alliance Chemical has served over 50,000 customers since 1998, operating from our warehouse at 204 S Edmond St, Taylor, Texas. All hazmat shipping guidance on this page has been reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
