45071

Disposing of muriatic acid [Ohio]

May 9, 2007

I have roughly 30 gallons of diluted muriatic acid. it was diluted 4:1. What would I do (fastest, safest, most enviromentally friendly) to make it safe to dump on the ground or down the drain?
I have 3 mini pinschers...

Sion Sublett
- Columbus, Ohio, USA

Carefully neutralize with diluted caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to a pH near 7. The final product is sodium chloride and water (very much like sea water). Then investigate if you can dump it in your area.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico

Adding a sodium hydroxide solution to an acid can generate significant heat. It would be safer and cheaper to use Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking soda) in a vessel that is at least twice as large as the volume of liquid that you are neutralizing to allow for bubbling of the Carbon Dioxide gas that will be generated. Add the Sodium Bicarbonate slowly in a well ventilated or outside area. Continue to add the Sodium Bicarbonate slowly until the solution reaches a near neutral pH 6-7. You can then pour it down the drain assuming there is no other contaminants in the muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid). You will have metal contaminants in the muriatic acid if it ever came in contact with metal.

Mike Jackson
- Woonsocket, RI