Non-Chemical Concentrating dilute HCl/Muriatic - DIY

[voeckel]

I thought this might be interesting for those who think of concentrating their HCl but do not know how to approach it.

The kicker here is using concentrated H2SO4 to absorb the H2O contents of your dilute HCl, relasing gaseous HCl, which can then be bubbled through a calculated amount of water to produce the strength according to your needs.

Caution when mixing! Use a magnetic stirrer!

H2SO4 is highly hygroscopic and therefore ideal as an absorber for unwanted H2O. The dilute acid can then later be boiled down to concentrate it again or keep it diluted for use in other applications).


In the fist link is a great explanation on this topic. It provides all the info you need, including the setup. The 2nd is for info on re-concentrating H2SO4.

http://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodium/chemistry/hclgas.argox.html
http://www.amazingrust.com/Experiments/how_to/Concentrating_H2SO4.html


I really like the clear, precise explanations! I did not try it myself though. Maybe someone already has?

 

[lazersteve]

One can produce HCl from sodium chloride, water, and concentrated sulfuric acid.

H2SO4 + 2NaCl --> 2HCl + Na2SO4

The resulting HCl gas is bubbled into cold distilled water to form concentrated aqueous HCl up to 37% upon saturation.

This same reaction gas can be bubbled into cold diluted HCl to increase it's concentration up to 37%

Steve