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How to Neutralize Chemical Spills

Strong acids and bases can be very corrosive to many materials, including skin
Apr 01, 2009 Lab Safety Supply

Neutralizing an acidic or caustic material during spill cleanup makes the material safer to
handle and dramatically reduces disposal costs. Strong acids and bases can be very
corrosive to many materials, including skin.

How do you know if something is a strong acid or base? The best way to measure this is to
take the pH of the solution using pH paper, chemical indicators, or pH meters. Chemicals
with a pH of 7 are considered neutral acids and typically have a pH less than 7. To
neutralize them, use a weak base. There are two types of acids: mineral (inorganic)
acids—such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, or nitric—and carboxylic (organic) acids such as
formic or acetic.

Bases, also called alkaline compounds, have a pH greater than 7. Use a weak acid to
neutralize bases. Examples include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and
ammonia.

Many different products aid in the neutralization of acids and bases. They can be as
simple as a bag of citric acid or sodium sesquicarbonate, or as complex as a solidifier and
neutralizer combined.

The acid and base react during neutralization, forming water and a salt. If the acid and
base are both very strong (such as concentrated hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide),
a violent reaction will occur. That’s why most neutralizers are very weak: to slow the
reaction. Even with neutralization products, heat and gas will often evolve. Take proper
precautions as recommended by the neutralizer’s manufacturer.
 Related Article: Hazardous Spill Protection

Most neutralizers give an estimated amount of acid/base that they’ll neutralize. It

usually takes large amounts to neutralize an acid or base, especially if it’s concentrated.
Some neutralizers have a built-in color indicator to signal when the spill is neutral.
Others require you to check the pH until it’s neutral. Some neutralizers also solidify the
spill as they neutralize to make cleanup easier.

Chart A

Gallons of Acid Neutralized

Spill-X-A® Hazorb® Neutrasorb™

Acid
2.5 lbs. 3.3 lbs. 7.04 lbs.

Acetic 99% .30 .40 .13

Hydrochloric 37% .27 .50 .52

Hydrofluoric 49% .25 * *

Nitric 70% .55 .40 .40

Perchloric 70% .29 .53 *

Phosphoric 85% .30 .13 .13

Sulfuric 93% .30 .19 .18

Chart B

Gallons of Base Neutralized

Spill-X-C® Hazorb® Neutracit-2™

Base
2 lbs. 4.95 lbs. 2.64 lbs.

Ammonium Hydroxide .41 .56 .15

Potassium Hydroxide .27 .42 .20

Sodium Hydroxide .17 .26 .13

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