Calling All Chem Geeks (incl. THE Chem Geek) re: storing pool chems

[elsie]

My HVAC guy, David, just called to see how I'm liking the ultra-clean air inside my house and after I expressed my gratitude (again), I told him about the wetness underneath the vapor barriers, and he said that's *normal* - it's sweating/condensation and it can't hurt anything because it's under the plastic, i.e., that's what they're for (which I knew, but still didn't quite grasp apparently). So I am quite relieved. I'm going to get a dehumdifier anyway to protect what he just called an industrial-grade duct system. What an extraordinary service, and extraordinary man.

And you can bet I won't store any MA or bleach in my garage, either, where my car of course is along with my new toy, a Gary Fisher hybrid bike.

[waste]

Elsie, glad you're breathing clean air!

Thanks for starting this so I remembered to ask my questions

I hope your pool and new duct work never cause you any problems, but if they do... you know where to find your answers

[drband]

What's the best way to dispose of extra "old" muriatic acid? I have a partial bottle that I want to get rid of... have not used or needed it in years. I know I should not just pour it down a drain or onto the ground. Is there a safe way to neutralize it?

[waste]

While I'm certainly noot an expert on hazardous chems, I think that filling a ~30 gallon garbage bin with water, adding the acid and then enough soda ash (pH up or Super Washing soda to neutralize it) would be sufficient to allow you to just dump the bin on the driveway or lawn.

[chem geek]

1 gallon of full-strength Muriatic Acid (31.45% Hydrochloric Acid) is neutralized by 8.4 pounds of pH Up / Soda Ash / Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda or by 16.6 pounds of 20 Mule Team Borax.

[drband]

Excellent! Now I know what to do and how much neutralizer to use.

[chem geek]

It will actually take less than the amounts I indicated, especially for the soda ash, because it will result in carbon dioxide outgassing that will also raise the pH. Figure about 4-1/2 pounds instead of the 8.4 pounds (per gallon of acid). You should mix the soda ash in a bucket of water and then slowly add the acid to it. Wear goggles as there will be bubbling of carbon dioxide when you add the acid and you don't want anything splashing into your eyes.