Project:Deactivating a ferric chloride solution: Difference between revisions

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Project maintained by Daniel Sikar ~/ dsikaratgmaildotcom.
Project maintained by Daniel Sikar ~/ dsikaratgmaildotcom.


== Deactivating a Ferric Chloride solution ==
== Deactivating a ferric chloride solution ==
=== In practice ===
=== In practice ===


* Example
* Example


A solution that was made with a packet of Ferric Chloride crystals weighing 300 grams requires 222 grams of NaOH to be deactivated.
A solution that was made with a packet of ferric chloride (FeCl<sub>3</sub>) crystals weighing 300 grams requires 222 grams of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to be deactivated.
 
After deactivation, the neutralised solution will contain iron hydroxide (Fe(OH)<sub>3</sub>) which is rust and sodium chloride (NaCl) which is common table salt.


After deactivating, the neutralised solution will contain Fe(OH)3 (Iron Hydroxide) which is rust and NaCl which is common table salt.
Both are innocuous and can be poured down the drain.
Both are innocuous and can be poured down the drain.


* Method
* Method


Pour the spent Ferric Chloride solution in a plastic bucket - do not use metal buckets, add about 5 times its volume of water.
Pour the spent ferric chloride solution in a plastic bucket - do not use metal buckets, add about 5 times its volume of water.
Dissolve 222 grams of Sodium Hydroxide in about 3 litres of water.
Dissolve 222 grams of sodium hydroxide in about 3 litres of water.


In a thin stream, add the Sodium Hydroxide solution to the Ferric Chloride and stir. Once it turns rust coloured it is ready to be
In a thin stream, add the sodium hydroxide solution to the ferric chloride and stir. Once it turns rust coloured it is ready to be
discarded.
discarded.


If not discarded, on standing, the Iron Hydroxide will separate out at the bottom, while at the top, a crust of copper carbonate CuCO3 will form due to the copper from etched circuits.
If not discarded, on standing, the iron hydroxide will separate out at the bottom, while at the top, a crust of copper carbonate (CuCO<sub>3</sub>) will form due to the copper from etched circuits.


The iron hydroxide at the bottom is a standard commercial pigment and can be separated off the solution and added to latex paint.
The iron hydroxide at the bottom is a standard commercial pigment and can be separated off the solution and added to latex paint.
[[File:Deactivated_FeCl3_Solution.jpg|200px]]


=== In Theory ===
=== In Theory ===


Chemically the reaction is Ferric Chloride reacting to Sodium Hydroxide turning into Ferric Hydroxide and Sodium Chloride.
Ferric chloride reacts with sodium hydroxide turning into ferric hydroxide and sodium chloride.


FeCl3 + 3NaOH -> Fe(OH)3 + 3NaCl
FeCl<sub>3</sub> + 3 NaOH → Fe(OH)<sub>3</sub> + 3 NaCl


The proportions are:
The proportions are:


1 mole of FeCl3 which is 91,3g reacting with 3 moles of Sodium Hydroxide 3NaOH which is 120g.
1 mole of FeCl<sub>3</sub> which is 91,3g reacting with 3 moles of NaOH which is 120g.


The mass of 1 mole is obtained by adding together the atomic masses obtained from the periodic table of elements:
The mass of 1 mole is obtained by adding together the atomic masses obtained from the periodic table of elements:


Chlorine (Cl) has the atomic mass of 35,5 (grams/mole) and Iron (Fe) has the atomic mass of 55.8 (grams/mole).
Iron (Fe) has the atomic mass of 55.8 (grams/mole) and Chlorine (Cl) has the atomic mass of 35,5 (grams/mole).
 
Ferric chloride (FeCl<sub>3</sub>) will then have the molecular mass of 55.8 * 1 + 35.5 * 3 = 162.3 g/mole.
 
To find how many moles are contained in 300 grams of ferric chloride the calculation is 300/162.3 = 1.85 moles of ferric chloride.


Ferric Chloride (FeCl3) will then have the molecular mass of 55.8 * 1 + 35.5 * 3 = 162.3 g/mole.
Conversely; Sodium (Na) ~ 23 g/mole, Oxygen (0) ~ 16 g/mole and Hydrogen (H) 1 g/mole totalling 40 grams per mole.


To find how many moles are contained in 300 grams of Ferric Chloride the calculation is 300/162.3 = 1.85 moles of Ferric Chloride.
Each mole of FeCl<sub>3</sub> requires 3 moles of NaOH (sodium hydroxide) at 40 grams per mole.


Each mole of FeCl3 requires 3 moles of NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide) at 40 grams per mole.
The weight of Na0H required to deactivate the spent FeCl<sub>3</sub> solution is obtained thus:


The weight of Na0H required to deactivate the spent FeCl3 solution is obtained thus:
1.85 * 3 = 5.55 moles of NaOH, at 40 g/mole that will be 5.55 * 40 = 222 grams NaOH.


1.85 * 3 = 5.55 moles of NaOH, at 40 g/mole that will be 5.55 * 40 = 222 grams NaOH
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Latest revision as of 00:06, 29 May 2013

Project maintained by Daniel Sikar ~/ dsikaratgmaildotcom.

Deactivating a ferric chloride solution

In practice

  • Example

A solution that was made with a packet of ferric chloride (FeCl3) crystals weighing 300 grams requires 222 grams of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to be deactivated.

After deactivation, the neutralised solution will contain iron hydroxide (Fe(OH)3) which is rust and sodium chloride (NaCl) which is common table salt.

Both are innocuous and can be poured down the drain.

  • Method

Pour the spent ferric chloride solution in a plastic bucket - do not use metal buckets, add about 5 times its volume of water. Dissolve 222 grams of sodium hydroxide in about 3 litres of water.

In a thin stream, add the sodium hydroxide solution to the ferric chloride and stir. Once it turns rust coloured it is ready to be discarded.

If not discarded, on standing, the iron hydroxide will separate out at the bottom, while at the top, a crust of copper carbonate (CuCO3) will form due to the copper from etched circuits.

The iron hydroxide at the bottom is a standard commercial pigment and can be separated off the solution and added to latex paint.

Deactivated FeCl3 Solution.jpg

In Theory

Ferric chloride reacts with sodium hydroxide turning into ferric hydroxide and sodium chloride.

FeCl3 + 3 NaOH → Fe(OH)3 + 3 NaCl

The proportions are:

1 mole of FeCl3 which is 91,3g reacting with 3 moles of NaOH which is 120g.

The mass of 1 mole is obtained by adding together the atomic masses obtained from the periodic table of elements:

Iron (Fe) has the atomic mass of 55.8 (grams/mole) and Chlorine (Cl) has the atomic mass of 35,5 (grams/mole).

Ferric chloride (FeCl3) will then have the molecular mass of 55.8 * 1 + 35.5 * 3 = 162.3 g/mole.

To find how many moles are contained in 300 grams of ferric chloride the calculation is 300/162.3 = 1.85 moles of ferric chloride.

Conversely; Sodium (Na) ~ 23 g/mole, Oxygen (0) ~ 16 g/mole and Hydrogen (H) 1 g/mole totalling 40 grams per mole.

Each mole of FeCl3 requires 3 moles of NaOH (sodium hydroxide) at 40 grams per mole.

The weight of Na0H required to deactivate the spent FeCl3 solution is obtained thus:

1.85 * 3 = 5.55 moles of NaOH, at 40 g/mole that will be 5.55 * 40 = 222 grams NaOH.