Well I saw this small amount of clear fluid in my bilge sump and since my new shower/cooler sump and pump didnt seem to be the source I began to look around. Sure enough my battery was toppled over (the strap bracket broke) and out came the fluid. My question is: How do I clean it up? Will cause any harm that I should look for? Thanks Ed
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
B
Bill Ebling
Neutralize, flush with FRESH water
I assume that you knocked over a flooded battery. If so you have sulfuric acid in your bilge and all along the way to the bilge. The real risk is you coming in contact with the acid and potentially the liberation of chlorine gas if it comes in contact with seawater. Be careful not to come in direct contact with the acid because it will create nasty chemical burns. It will eat through clothing. Put rubber gloves on and wear safety glasses. Douse spills as soon as possible with Fresh water. Neutralize the washings by pouring copious quantities of dry baking soda (sodium carbonate) over the acid. It will fizz as you create neutral relatively safe sodium sulfate and liberate carbon dioxide. Keep adding baking soda until it no longer fizzes. This tells you have neutralized the acid. Then flush again with copious quantities of FRESH water. (What ever you do don't flush with seawater because you can potentially liberate deadly chlorine gas). Let the bilge pump pump the now relatively environmentally safe neutralized sodium sulfate fluid overboard. The un-neutralized acid should not attack plastics or gel coat but may attack metals
I assume that you knocked over a flooded battery. If so you have sulfuric acid in your bilge and all along the way to the bilge. The real risk is you coming in contact with the acid and potentially the liberation of chlorine gas if it comes in contact with seawater. Be careful not to come in direct contact with the acid because it will create nasty chemical burns. It will eat through clothing. Put rubber gloves on and wear safety glasses. Douse spills as soon as possible with Fresh water. Neutralize the washings by pouring copious quantities of dry baking soda (sodium carbonate) over the acid. It will fizz as you create neutral relatively safe sodium sulfate and liberate carbon dioxide. Keep adding baking soda until it no longer fizzes. This tells you have neutralized the acid. Then flush again with copious quantities of FRESH water. (What ever you do don't flush with seawater because you can potentially liberate deadly chlorine gas). Let the bilge pump pump the now relatively environmentally safe neutralized sodium sulfate fluid overboard. The un-neutralized acid should not attack plastics or gel coat but may attack metals
B
Bob England
Dangerous situation
I'm not an expert-- just writing from memory of college chemistry class over 30 yrs ago. The battery fluid is concentrated sulfuric acid. It attacks anything that contains carbon -- like wood, your clothes, or your skin! As I recall, it is safe to pour acid into a larger volume of water, since the water will cool the exothermic (heat generating) reaction of acid dissolving in the water, but it is very dangerous to pour water into acid, since the acid will spatter all over the place. There may be some way to safely neutralize the acid, but that is beyond my expertise. Whatever you do, please wear eye protection, rubber gloves, and very old clothes while you remedy this. Good luck, Bob.
I'm not an expert-- just writing from memory of college chemistry class over 30 yrs ago. The battery fluid is concentrated sulfuric acid. It attacks anything that contains carbon -- like wood, your clothes, or your skin! As I recall, it is safe to pour acid into a larger volume of water, since the water will cool the exothermic (heat generating) reaction of acid dissolving in the water, but it is very dangerous to pour water into acid, since the acid will spatter all over the place. There may be some way to safely neutralize the acid, but that is beyond my expertise. Whatever you do, please wear eye protection, rubber gloves, and very old clothes while you remedy this. Good luck, Bob.
B
Bill Ebling
Flushing electrolyte with Fresh Water OK
Although its a strong acid solution its not pure sulfuric acid; it already has water in it. The risk of a run away boil is minimal at this dilution. Remember, we add distilled water to the electrolyte solution to top off flooded batteries without a boil.
Although its a strong acid solution its not pure sulfuric acid; it already has water in it. The risk of a run away boil is minimal at this dilution. Remember, we add distilled water to the electrolyte solution to top off flooded batteries without a boil.
Good time to evaluate Gel/AGM technology!
Ed: This is one of the primary reasons that Gel and AGM technology is so popular. NEVER EVER again would you have to worry about an accident like this. You can even use the AGM's up-side-down. If you have the proper charger they are wonderful. Do wear eye protection and gloves before you attempt clean up. The baking soda is a good neturalizer, then lots and lots of water. I assume that most of this has already been pumped overboard since it was in you bilge and sump. Might as well add a mixture of baking soda and water and just flush out everything.
Ed: This is one of the primary reasons that Gel and AGM technology is so popular. NEVER EVER again would you have to worry about an accident like this. You can even use the AGM's up-side-down. If you have the proper charger they are wonderful. Do wear eye protection and gloves before you attempt clean up. The baking soda is a good neturalizer, then lots and lots of water. I assume that most of this has already been pumped overboard since it was in you bilge and sump. Might as well add a mixture of baking soda and water and just flush out everything.
E
Ed Fluss
THANKS TO YOU ALL
Thank you all for the fast response. I flushed with fresh water for 15 minutes and the bildge pump sent it all overboard. I will do the baking soda clean up tonight. A lingering question is do I have to replace the battery or can I refill with distilled water? Ed
Thank you all for the fast response. I flushed with fresh water for 15 minutes and the bildge pump sent it all overboard. I will do the baking soda clean up tonight. A lingering question is do I have to replace the battery or can I refill with distilled water? Ed
- Status
- Not open for further replies.