Product Overview
Sulfuric Acid 30% is a technical-grade aqueous solution of H₂SO₄ — a strong mineral acid used across water treatment, chemical processing, and metal finishing operations. At this concentration, the solution delivers controlled acidity while remaining easier to handle than more concentrated grades. It is classified as a corrosive liquid (UN2796, Class 8, Packing Group II) and ships under full DOT hazmat protocols from our Taylor, TX facility.
This product serves industrial buyers who need reliable acid supply in volumes ranging from bench-scale quarts to 330-gallon totes — water-treatment operators adjusting influent pH, plating shops preparing pickling baths, and process engineers running acid-catalyzed reactions at scale.
Why This Concentration
A 30% sulfuric acid solution occupies a practical middle ground. It is concentrated enough to drive pH adjustment and metal-surface reactions without the extreme heat generation and fume hazard of higher-strength grades. When you add concentrated sulfuric acid to water, the exothermic reaction is violent; at 30%, that heat of dilution is already managed — the solution mixes with process water more predictably and with less thermal shock to equipment.
For operations that need more aggressive acid activity — battery electrolyte fill, for instance — consider Sulfuric Acid 37% Battery Acid or Sulfuric Acid 50% Electrolyte Grade. Metal pickling lines and chemical synthesis routes that call for near-full-strength acid may require Sulfuric Acid 93% Technical Grade or Sulfuric Acid 96% ACS Grade. The 30% concentration is the right pick when your process calls for controlled acid dosing without the secondary dilution step.
Chemical Profile
Sulfuric Acid 30% is a colorless, odorless liquid solution with a specific gravity of 1.22 at 20 °C (30% w/w aqueous). Its molecular formula is H₂SO₄ (molecular weight 98.08 g/mol; CAS 7664-93-9). The solution is fully miscible with water — addition releases heat, so always add acid to water, never the reverse. Vapor pressure is low at ambient temperatures (1 mmHg at 294.8 °F), meaning it does not generate significant fumes under normal storage conditions. It is corrosive to metals and tissue on contact.
Industrial Applications
Sulfuric Acid 30% finds use wherever controlled, moderate-strength acid is needed in an industrial process:
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pH Control in Water Treatment — Municipal and industrial water-treatment plants dose sulfuric acid to lower influent or effluent pH. The 30% concentration allows precise metering pump control without the viscosity issues that come with higher-strength acid, keeping pH targets within permit limits.
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Metal Processing and Pickling — Steel mills and metal finishing shops use dilute sulfuric acid baths to remove scale, oxide layers, and surface contaminants before plating or coating. A 30% solution provides enough reactivity for light-to-moderate descaling while extending bath life compared to stronger concentrations.
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Chemical Synthesis — As a feedstock or catalyst in acid-catalyzed reactions, 30% sulfuric acid participates in the production of fertilizers, dyes, detergents, and other downstream chemicals. The lower concentration simplifies safe transfer and metering into reactor vessels.
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Lead-Acid Battery Electrolyte Preparation — Dilute sulfuric acid is the starting point for blending electrolyte solutions to specific gravities required by battery manufacturers. Process engineers dilute or concentrate from this baseline depending on the target cell chemistry.
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Industrial Cleaning and Dehydration — Sulfuric acid's strong affinity for water makes it effective as a dehydrating agent in drying processes and as a cleaning agent for mineral-scale removal in process equipment.
Handling & Storage
Sulfuric Acid 30% carries a GHS signal word of Danger. The product's GHS hazard statements include:
- H290: May be corrosive to metals (per the product's GHS classification)
- H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage (per the product's GHS classification)
- H350: May cause cancer (per the product's GHS classification)
Operators must wear acid-resistant gloves, chemical splash goggles, and a face shield when handling. Use in a well-ventilated area or under local exhaust. If heated, the solution can release toxic fumes — never heat in an unventilated space.
Store in HDPE, glass, or other acid-compatible containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Keep away from strong bases, organic materials, and reactive metals — contact can produce violent exothermic reactions or hydrogen gas evolution. Keep containers tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption and concentration changes. Inspect storage vessels for corrosion regularly.
Hazmat & Shipping
Sulfuric Acid 30% is a regulated hazardous material for transport. Every shipment from our Taylor, TX warehouse is prepared under DOT hazmat protocols:
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UN Number: UN2796 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 8 — Corrosive (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: II (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Sulfuric acid, with not more than 51 percent acid (per 49 CFR 172.101)
All packaging, marking, labeling, and shipping documentation is prepared in accordance with 49 CFR requirements. Quantities, container types, and carrier routing are determined per the applicable regulatory thresholds for each shipment.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order, available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) is available upon request, documenting the actual assay and quality parameters for your specific shipment. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is also available for process-engineering reference.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
We carry Sulfuric Acid 30% in pack sizes from 1-quart bottles through 330-gallon totes — matching lab bench trials and full-scale production runs from a single supplier. Alliance Chemical has served over 50,000 industrial customers since 1998, and every corrosive shipment is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist, to ensure compliant packaging and documentation before it leaves our Taylor, TX warehouse.
