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Does stainless steel tank for phosphoric acid storage need passivation?

We are erecting some storage tanks for phosphoric acid storage and processing. Shell material is 361L SS. we use CS tools, and during fabrication and erection. Do I need to passivate the interior tank surfaces after field erection or will the acid do this?

David Armstrong
tank builder - Tampa, Florida
November 4, 2011

November 15, 2011

David,
Phosphoric acid does not passivate stainless steel, no. However it is a good rust remover, so you're not likely to see corrosion on the inside of your tank in any event. It would be easy enough to passivate the tank with a citric acid formula just to be safe, though. Let us know if we can help.

Ray Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.

McHenry, Illinois

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