Waste sulphuric acid recycling

Journal of Applied Polymer Science 52, No.9, 31st May 1994, p. 1353-5 HYDROLYSIS OF WASTE PETP BY SULPHURIC ACID AT ISO C FOR A CHEMICAL RECYCLING... 

Many standard reactions that are widely applied in the production of fine chemicals employ. strong mineral or Lewis acids, such as sulphuric acid and aluminium chloride, often in stoichiometric quantities. This generates waste streams containing large amounts of spent acid, which cannot easily be recovered and recycled. Replacement of these soluble mineral and Lewis acids by recyclable. solid acids, such as zeolites, acid clays, and related materials, would represent a major breakthrough, especially if they functioned in truly catalytic quantities. Consequently, the application of solid acids in fine chemicals synthesis is currently the focus of much attention (Downing et al., 1997). 

R.N. Gedye, Y.N. Sadana, and A.C.E. Edmonds, Electrochemical... Recycling of Nitration Waste Concentrated Sulphuric Acid,/. Appl. Electrochem. 17, 731-736, July (1987). 

Battery recycling creates lead-containing wastes which are classified as dangerous -in particular, smelting slag and slurries from sulphuric acid neutralisation. COBAT supervise the recyclers to ensure that they send this particular waste to landfill or use it according to the law. 

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