[RE-wrenches] Battery electrolyte question

[Peter Parrish]

Sodium bicarbonate is a pretty mild base. I use a solution of 1 Tbl to a
quart of water to neutralize minor acid spills and to clean up the top of
vented batteries. But for a ½ gallon, it would take several (ten?) pounds of
Baking Soda.
 
I would try to use lime (calcium oxide) or slaked lime (calcium hydroxide),
or even agricultural lime (calcium carbonate). All this stuff is cheaper
than Baking Soda per pound. Be careful! When you add calcium oxide to water
it can heat up, so do it slowly. Anyway, add diluted battery acid to a
dilute solution of lime (also take care because this reaction is also
exothermic) to until the pH is neutral (pH 6-7) and then you can dispose of
it pretty much anyway you want. 
 
Use rubber gloves, a plastic apron and a facemask. 
 
- Peter
 
Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President
California Solar Engineering, Inc.
820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
peter.parrish at calsolareng.com  
Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885

 
  _____  

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Glenn Burt
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 2:10 PM
To: Allan at positiveenergysolar.com; 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery electrolyte question
 
Big box of Baking Soda?
 
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Allan
Sindelar
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 4:36 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Battery electrolyte question
 
Wrenches,
By chance I found a half-full gallon jug full of lead-acid battery
electrolyte. It has begun to leak. With no knowledge of its history, age,
origin, etc. I'm not sure how to dispose of it safely. 

I don't think I've ever seen this addressed on this list before. Can anyone
help with some simple solutions?

Thanks, Allan
-- 
Allan Sindelar
 <mailto:Allan at positiveenergysolar.com> Allan at positiveenergysolar.com
NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Positive Energy, Inc.
3201 Calle Marie
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
505 424-1112
 <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/> www.positiveenergysolar.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20110110/d2dd382f/attachment-0003.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 4272 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20110110/d2dd382f/attachment-0006.gif>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 63900 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20110110/d2dd382f/attachment-0003.jpg>