Fe-Wood Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I've got about 2 gallons of used 50/50 Miriatic Acid and Water I need to exchange for new. I've been using it to clean Copper and it has lost most of its cleaning power and now deposits a red oxide on the surface. I'm assuming the red came from the steel tongs I was using to handle the Copper until I made some Stainless ones. Any suggestions? The liquid is Very Green and I'm sure toxic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Neutralize, let it dry out and take residue to toxic waste pickup day? If it's only copper, I don't think chlorides of copper are that bad compared to something like Chrome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Dump some lime, or baking soda into it to neutralize any remaining acid. After that, you can let it dry out, after which it is safe to toss into the trash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 easy for you guys in the south desert to say- let it dry out .....I have moss growing between my toes, its rained so much here lately..... Guess I need to find another bucket and wait for summer Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefera4m Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Dump some lime, or baking soda into it to neutralize any remaining acid. After that, you can let it dry out, after which it is safe to toss into the trash. Be very careful about 'dumping' lime or baking soda into two gallons of Muratic Acid - a 50/50 solution will react violently and be all over the place before it's all neutralized - don't ask me how I know . Just add a little at a time and wait unitl each reaction subsides before adding more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 I thought that as well- But thanks for bringing it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southernforge Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Or offer it for adoption on local Freecycle group: One person's trash is another's treasure. http://www.freecycle.org/group/US/California/Grass%20Valley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sask Mark Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Be very careful about 'dumping' lime or baking soda into two gallons of Muratic Acid - a 50/50 solution will react violently and be all over the place before it's all neutralized - don't ask me how I know . Just add a little at a time and wait unitl each reaction subsides before adding more. Very true. An acid + base reaction will give you salt and water, but it is quite an exothermic reaction. You could dilute the acid down quite a ways with water, then add baking soda, weakening the acid. This would be similar to the baking soda and vinegar reaction that kids use in their home-made volcanoes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazerbud Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Just a safety note. You should always refer to an MSDS. Other than that, I think that anyone handling such materials should equip themselves with pH paper, and as noted before some soda ash or lime, kind of like a spill kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted March 22, 2010 Author Share Posted March 22, 2010 Does acid's capability reduce with use? Specifically, what I'm using it for, Cleaning oxidation off Copper? Reason I ask is- when I raised this question the solution was leaving a red oxide film on the copper and taking a long time to remove scale. Now it seems to be working fine again, removing the oxide from heating. I'm curious what happened. Only change is that some of the water evaporated and I'm no longer putting mild steel in the solution- I made stainless tongs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sukellos Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Or offer it for adoption on local Freecycle group: One person's trash is another's treasure.http://www.freecycle.../Grass%20Valley Hey thanks! I didn't even know such a thing existed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southernforge Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Does acid's capability reduce with use? Specifically, what I'm using it for, Cleaning oxidation off Copper?.... Try Heinz or other brand of ketchup to clean copper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Just saw a listing for 35 gallons of Muriatic acid on the Craigslist free section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 spray it on poision ivy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamptroll Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I've got about 2 gallons of used 50/50 Miriatic Acid and Water I need to exchange for new. I've been using it to clean Copper and it has lost most of its cleaning power and now deposits a red oxide on the surface. I'm assuming the red came from the steel tongs I was using to handle the Copper until I made some Stainless ones. Any suggestions? The liquid is Very Green and I'm sure toxic. Acid copper can be used to quick plate steel for a copper look or to identify steel from stainless, nickel or other steels by the quick plating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Interesting on the quik plating. I also found that by using this same mixture using steel tongs to hold the Copper, I got a red patina on the copper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVisser Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 Or offer it for adoption on local Freecycle group: One person's trash is another's treasure. http://www.freecycle.org/group/US/California/Grass%20Valley Hello, fellow iron bashers! This is to all who were involved in this thread, fantastic quests, and answers. This to Anvilflower, first cool handle! Second, Yes.....it may well have a secondary use, and if dried it'l take up less space for when a possible use or experiment comes to mind. Just as I began to navigate through the reply area I noticed someone mentioning plating use, this was my first thought too. With all that copper in it, save it, maybe it can be converted or used in self plating (on iron) as a pre treatment for further copper plating. Cordially, M. Visser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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