Muriatic acid can be harmful to your health if it’s left sitting around in your household.
There are several ways you can safely dispose of this chemical. However, you should realize that there is only a single approved method for handling it.
So, how do you dispose of muriatic acid?
Muriatic acid is a powerful acid that is used in many industries.
Unfortunately, it’s highly corrosive and dangerous. There are strict regulations about who can dispose of it, how to dispose of it, and where to dispose of it.
Primarily, it should only be disposed of by a licensed waste contractor. It’s also essential to use only approved containers when disposing of it.
Finally, it’s important to dispose of the acid in a designated disposal site.
What is Muriatic Acid?
Contents
Hydrochloric acid is a mixture of hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid in water.
It is a water-based solution that is quite acidic in nature with a typical pH of 2 to 3 and an H+ concentration of around 35% to 50% by weight.
Muriatic acid is most typically used to remove rust from metal surfaces and as a cleaning agent in the paint industry.
Furthermore, it is used in a variety of applications ranging from food preservation to water treatment and water purification purposes.
Is It Safe to Pour Muriatic Acid Down the Drain?
No, you can’t flush it down the toilet or pour it down the sink drain or onto the ground where it can contaminate local waterways or groundwater supplies.
Muriatic acid is a hazardous material due to its high acidity and corrosive nature.
If poured straight down the sink drain, it can corrode the pipes.
If you are disposing of a tiny amount of muriatic acid, place it in a plastic container and then seal the container tightly with the lid before throwing it away in the garbage.
Why Is It Important to Properly Dispose of Muriatic Acid?
Muriatic acid is considered harmful and poisonous, and therefore there is strict regulation about how and where you can dispose of it.
For example, homeowners are not allowed to dispose of muriatic acid in the home.
However, homeowners can transport the acid to the municipal waste transfer station with the proper documentation and waste manifest.
There are also strict regulations and guidelines about how to dispose of acids in the home. For example, you’ll want to be sure that your drains are empty so they don’t get damaged when pouring the acid down the drain.
This is why it is critical to be extremely careful when handling this chemical compound in your home or when transporting it to a waste disposal facility.
How to Dispose of Muriatic Acid
Use as a Pool Filter Cleaner
Instead of tossing it out, you may be able to use muriatic acid as a filter cleaner for your pool. This saves money, because you may already have some on hand.
First, add the acid to a bucket of water and let it dissolve.
Then, distribute the muriatic acid evenly across the bottom of the pool.
You’ll need to scrub the pool with a stiff brush to break up the debris and scale deposits at the bottom of the pool.
Use Muriatic Acid to Clean Your Toilet
Muriatic acid is one of the most efficient cleaners for removing mineral deposits and caked-on soap deposits in a toilet.
Simply pour two cups of muriatic acid into the toilet bowl, and then scrub the walls and bottom of the toilet bowl with a toilet brush.
Wash Your Concrete with Unused Muriatic Acid
Muriatic acid is excellent for cleaning concrete surfaces.
It may also clean pool tiles and remove rust stains from concrete floors, but you’ll have to test a small area first to ensure that the acid will not damage the surface you are cleaning.
When working with a concrete surface, always wear protective eye gear, gloves and a face mask to avoid breathing in the fumes.
Pour Any Unused Muriatic Acid Into Your Pool
Instead of draining muriatic acid, store it in your swimming pool for future use.
When the chlorine levels in the pool are too low, you can add a cup of concentrated hydrochloric acid to the water to restore the proper level of chlorine.
Store it in an airtight plastic container to keep it from evaporating.
Contact a Hazardous Waste Facility in Your Area
If you wish to dispose of Muriatic acid in a landfill or at a hazardous waste facility, you’ll need to have the waste manifest on hand before transporting the chemical to a disposal site.
Your local Hazardous Waste Facility can assist you with disposing of any dangerous household waste safely and properly.
Alternatively, you can take the acid to a waste disposal facility that processes acids and caustic solutions like processing wastewater or food and beverage industry solutions.
When selecting a disposal facility, be sure to look for a facility that is equipped to handle flammable or hazardous materials like those that contain hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, sulphur trioxide and hydrogen peroxide.
Recycle Your Excess Muriatic Acid
When it comes to recycling hazardous compounds such as muriatic acid, there are strict guidelines and restrictions in place.
For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA has outlined specific regulations for recycling muriatic acid into other products.
Generally speaking, waste products containing muriatic acid may only be recycled within 18 months of production.
However, waste products that contain muriatic acid may be recycled indefinitely if they are used for “specific applications” by authorized facilities.
You may call a waste disposal company in your area to find out where you can recycle your excess quantities of used hydrochloric acid.
What Not To Do When Disposing of Muriatic Acid
Even if diluted, it is not a good idea to pour leftover hydrochloric acid down the drain because even small amounts can corrode metal pipes in the plumbing system.
Pour no muriatic acid down storm sewers or drains, as it could harm aquatic wildlife.
This is particularly hazardous to the young fish and other aquatic life that swim downstream after a storm has passed.
Varying locations have different regulations regarding disposal of waste materials containing large quantities of this corrosive chemical.
The acid may be harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Because of its dangerous features, it may disrupt normal bodily functions if ingested in large doses.
Furthermore, it may be exceedingly difficult to treat a person that has ingested large amounts of the acid because of the severity of the symptoms associated with exposure.
Muriatic acid is toxic to vegetation and can harm lawns and gardens.
As a result, it should usually be disposed of safely at a hazardous waste facility rather than poured down the drain.
Furthermore, if you have septic drains, it might upset the chemistry of your septic tank, which in turn could make your plumbing and septic systems malfunction.
Before you dispose of your muriatic acid in your sink drain or toilet, you may want to check with the local environmental hazardous waste facility to see exactly where and when to dispose of it.
You may also want to make sure that your septic system is in good working order before pouring the acid down the toilet drain.
How to Safely Store Muriatic Acid?
Ensure that the muriatic acid is stored in a dry place with temperatures below freezing levels.
Make sure it’s kept away from sources of ignition such as sparks and open flames.
It should not come into contact with any flammable substances such as gasoline or other solvents.
Make certain that the acid is put inside a closed container to prevent evaporation and spillage.
Also Read: How to Dispose of Yeast
Conclusion
In conclusion, Muriatic acid is dangerous and shouldn’t be disposed of in regular household trash.
Instead, it should be disposed at a designated hazardous waste facility.
