7 replies to this topic

[Ali_gholamalian]

Hello

 

My company want to neutralize about 10 tons of H2SO4 90 wt% with solid caustic soda in a neutralization sump with shower of water to reduce chemical vapor. I guess it will explode because of exothermic reaction.

 

Is there anyone to tell what will happen?

 

Sincerely

[breizh]

Acid + Base ---> Salt +water and Energy .

 

10 Mt is a lot , Can you consider  to sell the material or to dispose instead of neutralization ? if not you can use lime, caustic soda or Baking soda to neutralize the acid . Addition of reactant (base) must be slow.

Good to read the MSDS of the reactants if you are not familiar with these chemicals and how to handle them.

 

Full set of PPE is  required to avoid severe burns !

 

 

Breizh

[Ali_gholamalian]

Dear Breizh
Thanks for your attention. I know 10 tons is alot but in fact 2000 tons of discard acid is on the storage tanks but I can neutralize 10 tons each time. Our acid recovery plant is out of service and may not become operateable until 1 year from now.
This acid contains about 10% hydrocarbon as alkylsulfate so I guess explode will occure because of exothermic reaction. So I wish to neutralize with lime or caustic soda, is it possible? How to control heat of reaction?

[Ali_gholamalian]

Acid + Base ---> Salt +water and Energy .

 

10 Mt is a lot , Can you consider  to sell the material or to dispose instead of neutralization ? if not you can use lime, caustic soda or Baking soda to neutralize the acid . Addition of reactant (base) must be slow.

Good to read the MSDS of the reactants if you are not familiar with these chemicals and how to handle them.

 

Full set of PPE is  required to avoid severe burns !

 

 

Breizh

Dear Breizh

 

After all, I decide to neutralize with lime. Now I'm working on safety case, and how to control odor and fire (explosion) possibility. I guess an open sump with cold water shower can control odor and heat. what's your opinion?

[breizh]

Hi,

Sorry I'm not knowledgeable about your material ! Can you perform test in a lab ( hundred of cc) to understand possible issues and risks ?

Hope this helps.

Breizh

[smrtchemengg]

Hi Ali

I have recently faced the situation of neutralizing sulfuric acid tank . there was about 5 ton 98% strength acid in it. we drained about 3ton and then neutralized the rest. yes it evolves a lot of heat and 10 ton is a lot of acid. what I suggest you is to try a lab test of the acid contaminated with hydrocarbon with soda ash . The presence of excessive CO2 may reduce the risk, but you have to take care of proper venting of the gas.

does showering with water further evolves greater  heat ?

also take care of MOC  and full PPE is a must.

krishnan

[Zubair Exclaim]

use a circulation pump at the point of injection of lime (with circulation pump discharge at the point of mixing ) this will help in mixing as well as will help in heat dissipation and wont allow heat to locally accumulate. i had a similar situation where we were adding caustic to hydrogen peroxide and at the mixing point temperature rise caused lot of trouble for us, circulation helped us there .. 

Edited by Zubair Exclaim, 29 May 2014 - 08:10 AM.

[Technical Bard]

You should also be careful that use of caustic or even lime may cause saponification of the alkylsulfates, which could result in a lot of foaming.