What are corrosives?
Corrosives are strong substances that damage or destroy materials by dissolving their structure through chemical reaction. A corrosive can be a solid, liquid, or gaseous material, and is commonly classified as either an acid or a base. They have various industrial uses, most common of which is as a cleansing agent and degreaser for cleaning metals and equipment. In some chemical uses, corrosives are valued for their high reactivity, for instance when used in the alkylation process in an oil refinery.
Need immediate help with corrosives?
Examples of corrosives
Corrosive acids
-
Acetic acid
-
Chromic acid
-
Hydrochloric acid
-
Hydrofluoric acid
-
Nitric acid
-
Sulfuric acid
Corrosive bases
-
Alkali metals
-
Ammonium hydroxide
-
Calcium hydroxide
-
Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash)
-
Sodium amide
-
Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)
Why proper handling of corrosives is important
Corrosives are hazardous, as defined and identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which means they are considered to be harmful or to pose an unusual threat to health, equipment, property, or the environment from a regulatory perspective. For that reason, corrosives are regulated; to be compliant, specific procedures for safe and legal handling and disposal must be followed, and documentation must be provided.
How corrosives are recovered, treated, recycled or disposed of
Once used, corrosives are often recycled or neutralized. They may be routed for treatment prior to disposal, or go directly into hazardous waste landfills, industrial wells, or incinerators. Some corrosives are recycled by extracting useful resources from them by various methods. Unused corrosives found in a wide variety of facilities such as research laboratories and manufacturing plants can be collected and disposed of safely and compliantly through a lab pack, also known as a site clean-out or decommissioning.
Have corrosives? Talk to an expert to about a comprehensive, integrated disposal solution.
Environmental products
We offer a full range of equipment that is certified before use, meaning it is safe, clean, hydrotested and free from damage.
Environmental services
Republic Services provides comprehensive, integrated solutions for all your industrial waste needs.
