How does sodium hypochlorite produce acid?
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Pharmaceutical plant wastewater treatment process: anaerobic + aerobic treatment. After the exhaust gas is collected, it is treated using a three-stage process involving alkali, sodium hypochlorite, and biological deodorants; an activated carbon box is added after that. The box gets corroded almost completely within 2 months, with crystals forming on its surface. The pH value of these crystals is around 1-2 as measured with test strips, and there is water at the bottom of the box. I don’t understand how this acidic water is formed It should be alkaline as well, right?
It produces hypochlorous acid when in contact with water. When hypochlorous acid is heated to above 40 degrees, its decomposition rate becomes explosive, and it is a highly powerful oxidizing agent
Sodium hypochlorite itself has an unstable acid-base balance in water. It still possesses strong oxidizing and corrosive properties
Sodium hypochlorite decomposes when heated into hypochlorous acid and sodium hydroxide; hypochlorous acid further decomposes into hydrogen chloride and oxygen. First, the alkaline solution is released, followed by sodium hypochlorite. Hydrogen chloride goes along with the waste gases, and later it condenses together with water vapor in the activated carbon box; when it dissolves in water, isn’t it acidic?