Sodium Hydroxide soluation waste from Aluminum extrusion

[Dream91]

Hello..

If there is a company who do only aluminum extrusion( and not have anodizing plant ) , what is the best way to dispose sodium hydroxide solution waste resulted from cleaning the die ? Does reducing the PH by adding acid make the waste non hazardous ? Or additional steps is a must ???

 

[ashtree]

Neutralising it with acid may be acceptable, but it will still depend on how you are trying to dispose of the waste. Do you have any disposal licences or approvals , do they have conditions, are there trade waste laws etc?

Likewise are there other chemicals of concern other than the high pH in the solution?

Regards
Ashtree
"Any water can be made potable if you filter it through enough money"

 

[bimr]

If the waste is not classified as hazardous waste, one can neutralize the waste with acid. The waste may have metal content.

 

[Dream91]

If it has high aluminum metal content, will it be considered hazardous waste because as as I know aluminum is not a heavy metal?!!!

 

[bimr]

The definition of hazardous waste is a complicated subject.

Some of the materials that would otherwise fit the definitions of a solid or hazardous waste under waste identification are specifically excluded from the definitions. EPA concluded that these materials should not be regulated as solid or hazardous wastes for a number of reasons. Many exclusions are mandated in RCRA. EPA selected other exclusions to provide an incentive to recycle certain materials, because there was not enough information on the material to justify its regulation as a solid or hazardous waste, or because the material was already subject to regulation under another statute.

Definition