Disposing of battery acid

[degrom]

Hi.

How can I dispose of Battery acid in save and environmentally friendly way?

I want to make a few things from led and need to get rid of the donor battery's acid.

Thanks.

[Swoop]

Mix it with politicians drinks???... :whistle:

[Motu]

Neutralise it with an alkali.

[Deano]

Neutralise it with an alkali.

Then tip it down the sewer (gully drain)

[degrom]

Neutralise it with an alkali.

That makes sense!!!

What can I use for a Alkali that is strong enough?

[MisterD]

Strength isn't important, it will just take a bigger quantity of a weak Alkali to do the same job. Don't forget that the stronger Alkali you use, the more violent the reaction will be.

[Guitana]

Why go through all that just go up to the Metal recyclers and ask the guy if you can buy so many kilo's of lead!! Cheap as chips
Saves the environmental damage and you can give him your old batteries at the same time!! Also it's dangerous if you don't know what youre doing you may get poisoned by the fumes!!!

[scumdog]

Baking soda mixed in water put in a tub, trickle the battery acid into the tub CAREFULLY while wearing goggles.

That should neutralise the acid then you can tip it down the drains or wahtever.

[idleidolidyll]

Baking soda mixed in water put in a tub, trickle the battery acid into the tub CAREFULLY while wearing goggles.

That should neutralise the acid then you can tip it down the drains or wahtever.

please don't do that

yes, alkali will neutralise the acid but it doesn't make the mixture non toxic, in fact it may make it MORE toxic!

you might be better to talk to a battery company or the local council tip and take the raw acid to them for recycling

[ManDownUnder]

yes, alkali will neutralise the acid but it doesn't make the mixture non toxic, in fact it may make it MORE toxic!

I'm not sure of the pH of cyanide but... a quick search of Google tells me Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) has a pH of 7... nice and neutral but err "not so easy on the system".


you might be better to talk to a battery company or the local council tip and take the raw acid to them for recycling

LMAO - yeah - what he said!

[Macktheknife]

please don't do that

yes, alkali will neutralise the acid but it doesn't make the mixture non toxic, in fact it may make it MORE toxic!

you might be better to talk to a battery company or the local council tip and take the raw acid to them for recycling

What he said!
Don't tip it down the drains, if you get it wrong you won't have much drain left.
Also if you find your local battery supplier they will take it off your hands for nothing, they at least know how to deal with the stuff. btw, I hope you are really confident about the handling of the lead you are using, and that the purpose you have in mind is not affected by the absorption usually found with terminals.

[Guitana]

What he said!
Don't tip it down the drains, if you get it wrong you won't have much drain left.
Also if you find your local battery supplier they will take it off your hands for nothing, they at least know how to deal with the stuff. btw, I hope you are really confident about the handling of the lead you are using, and that the purpose you have in mind is not affected by the absorption usually found with terminals.

I'm sure EXIDE in petone will take it off ya they've got a nice little toxic dump in the middle of suburbia!!!!

[Motu]

The acid will be neutralised,but the components that make up both acid and alkali will still be there...sulphur,chlorine etc,I guess these are filtered out in a commercial site.

Related to the oil recycling thread I mentioned I toured the Dominion Oil Rerefinery.I was interested how they disposed of the acids and enquired about it - I was shown a vat and they told me the just neutralised it.''And then?'' I asked......into the drains.But they may of had filters,I was never shown that far.

[Ixion]

Battery acid is dilute sulphuric acid. If neutralised with sodium carbonate (washing soda) the end product is sodium sulphate , Glaubers salts. Quite harmless, and once used as a mild medicine.

If neutralised with calcium carbonate (sea shells), the end product is calcium sulphate, limestone. Also quite harmless.

No sulphur or chlorine.

EDIT: Actually, if you use sea shells for neutralisation, you may get some chlorine, unless the shells are well washed, due to the sulphuric acid decomposing the salt (NaCl) on the shells, liberating chlorine.

2NaCl + H2SO4 -> H2 + Cl2 + Na2SO4

[0arbreaka]

I recomend using a full face mask when doing this, as some of the reactions can be a bit violent and can spit quite a bit of the liquid back at you which can result in acid burns etc etc

[What?]

But you will be wasting your time. The lead you obtain from old batteries is good for 5/8 of fuck-all.
Do what Guitana said and go to a metal dealer (or a chandlers - they sell lead ingots for yacht keels)

[Hitcher]

Then tip it down the sewer (gully drain)

Nooooooooo!!!

[iwilde]

Got any old tree stumps or anoying weeds?