What Is a Neutralizer?
Neutralizers are devices designed to adjust the pH of acidic or alkaline liquids to a neutral range before discharging them into sewage systems or natural water bodies. They are essential in settings where water mixed with chemicals, displaying either acidity or alkalinity, is produced, such as factories and laboratories. Legal regulations dictate the acceptable pH range for wastewater discharge, necessitating the use of neutralizers for compliance.
Uses of Neutralizers
Neutralizers find applications across various sectors, including construction sites with alkaline wastewater from concrete washing, food factories producing pH-varied wastewater, chemical and semiconductor plants, and university laboratories. They are critical in ensuring wastewater meets legal pH standards for discharge.
Principle of Neutralizers
Neutralizers operate by adding alkaline or acidic chemicals to raw water to achieve a neutral pH level. They come in two main types: continuous, which treats water flow in real-time, and batch, which treats collected water in tanks. Common neutralizing agents include caustic soda for acidity and sulfuric or hydrochloric acid for alkalinity, with the tanks typically made from acid- and alkali-resistant polyethylene.
Types of Neutralizers
Neutralizers can be continuous, batch-type, or utilize carbon dioxide gas for neutralization. Continuous neutralizers handle ongoing water flow, potentially requiring staged treatment for extreme pH levels. Batch-type neutralizers treat water collected in tanks. Carbon dioxide gas neutralizers, suitable when traditional acids can’t be used, introduce CO2 gas to neutralize alkaline solutions up to pH 12.
Other Information on Neutralizers
1. Boiler Neutralizer
Boiler wastewater, typically alkaline, must be neutralized to meet discharge standards. Carbon dioxide gas neutralizers are often used, either directly or by utilizing CO2 from boiler exhaust gases, for this purpose, ensuring compliance and environmental protection.
2. Neutralizer for Dialysis Treatment
Dialysis facilities must neutralize acidic or alkaline cleaning wastewater to prevent sewer system damage and comply with local sewage standards. Common agents include sulfuric acid for acidic wastewater and caustic soda for alkaline conditions, with necessary legal notifications for new or updated neutralization systems.