Home > Community > What are the steps to safely dispose of acids?
Upvote

9

Downvote
+ Recycling
+ Environmentalism
+ Waste management
+ Acids
+ Chemistry
Posted by
Meja Meja

What are the steps to safely dispose of acids?

Christopher Imoe  Follow

Ascorbic acid? Citric acid? Carbonic acid? Amino acids? Acetyl salicylic acid?

The definition of a acid is basically a molecule that acts as a proton donor. There are quite a few of those around and we regularly consume quite a few of them.

You should remember that all things are dangerous, even water, if you consume them in inappropriate quantities.

More

Upvote

VOTE

Downvote
David Shaffer  Follow

A very simple thing is to neutralize them by adding baking soda slowly until the solution stops foaming. This turns the acid into a salt solution that in most cases can just be poured down the drain. Works for hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids. Use eye protection, avoid fumes and splashes.

More

Upvote

VOTE

Downvote
Donald Emily  Follow

You eat it with the dish.

You maybe refer to frying oil, which is technically cooking but it’s a cooking technique in which the fat is waste. If it’s still clear and fine, filter it and reuse it. If it’s burned, store it in a plastic jug then dispose as indicated by your local administration (we need to bring it to a collection point).

More

Upvote

VOTE

Downvote
Aubrey Berry  Follow

Disclaimer!

If you are not trained in safe laboratory techniques and don’t have the proper equipment you should not try to dispose of concentrated acids. They are dangerous and can kill you.

Now, If this is just a weak unconcentrated acid like vinegar, just dump it down the drain.

If it is a concentrated strong acid like muratic acid (HCL) or sulfuric acid, please give the job to someone who knows what they are doing.

Still if you insist:

Wear splash proof goggles. If it is a concentrated acid also wear rubber gloves and a rubber apron. SLOWLY add it to a large amount of cold water to dilute it. By large I mean at least 10 times more water.

Acids give off heat when they dissolve in water and when they are neutralized. Sulfuric is really bad. They can make themselves boil and cause a backsplash.

NEVER add water to acid! Always acid to water.

Neutralize it with a base like baking soda until it tests at a pH of 7. If you don’t have test paper or a pH meter go by the fizzing. It will stop fizzing with more baking soda when it is neutralized. If you are doing a lot it will take a large amount of baking soda, like several pounds.

After all of this, then you can flush it down the sink. Isn’t chemistry fun? It took me several hours to dispose of 4L of old sulfuric acid once.

More

Upvote

VOTE

Downvote
CheeHock Chew  Follow

Normally you should take most chemicals like strong acids to Eco centres so they can dispose of it. If it is a small amount, with googles on, fill a large bucket (5gallon) with water, add the acid slowly to the water and stir it in with a plastic spoon. DO NOT DO THE REVERSE. - NEVER ADD WATER TO ACID. The heat generated could boil the water explosively. Think of it this way, You need a lot of water to absorb the heat. Hydrochloride acid or sulphuric acid once diluted can be flushed down a toilet.

More

Upvote

VOTE

Downvote
Damon Howze  Follow

How is the acid in lead-acid batteries safely disposed of?

It is recycled. Actually this industry was a very early adopter of recycling, however it was not all careful about managing the effluent from these operations until laws were passed.

More

Upvote

VOTE

Downvote
Choko Canyon  Follow

You can neutralize it with lye, turning it into salt water, but if that makes you nervous, call your county hazardous waste people.

More

Upvote

VOTE

Downvote
Bilal Sayed  Follow

Neutralize them with alkalis such as lime and caustic soda. Don't try this yourself if you don't know what you're doing; get hazmat disposal specialists to do it for you

More

Upvote

VOTE

Downvote