[P2assist] looking for alternatives and ideas in dealing with waste sodium h ydroxide solutions

[John Seymour]

Dear P2assist folks,

A company has call us looking for alternatives to disposing of waste sodium
hydroxide solution that is buffered with dissolved aluminum (maybe 10% or
more). They use the sodium hydroxide solution to dissolve aluminum.  If they
could get rid of the residual aluminum, they say, they could reuse the
sodium hydroxide in the process. It would also be good if the waste could be
converted to something they could sell or give away for someone else to use.
We have a few ideas but would like to find out if anyone knows of something
that has worked, or is likely to work.

Currently the company adjusts the pH, with muriatic acid, and then mixes in
fly ash, to solidify it, before they pay to send it to the landfill. The
volume is about 2 to 3 large dumpsters (20 yard type) a year sent to the
landfill. 

Any suggestions or recommendations on where to look would be appreciated.

John Seymour
NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance
919/ 715-6503
Pollution Prevention Pays at www.p2pays.org/
Visit NC WasteTrader Waste Exchange and save at www.ncwastetrader.org