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ProfessorGAC

(64,413 posts)
27. It Would
Fri Nov 13, 2020, 07:52 AM
Nov 2020

Not up & down for 10s of miles, but for about a mile.
A 4% solution of potash has a pH of 13.
And pH drops inversely exponentially with dilution.
So, it takes quite a lot of water to get the pH below 8.
Because of the density differences, there'd be strata of concentration until diffusion kicks in.
Some eddy effects from the flow of the river would help mixing, though. It would just be the damage for a few hundred feet down river.
What I would do is neutralize with a dilute solution of acetic acid. (Essentially, white vinegar.). Potassium acetate is a salt that has very little to no immediate danger to life & health, even to aquatic life. And handling the dilute acetic is not a highly hazardous job for those doing it.
But, you are correct that dilution is the solution, ultimately. I'd rather be diluting a potassium salt than KOH.

Say, whatever did happen to that darn infrastructure week? Dagstead Bumwood Nov 2020 #1
I think "infrastructure week" MyOwnPeace Nov 2020 #3
Thanks for this man LSFL Nov 2020 #2
You made my day! Glad it helped. Just saw the Gov's email and said "holy shit'. KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2020 #6
I know LSFL Nov 2020 #8
It is the worst bridge in the country dsc Nov 2020 #4
471 bridge is a mile east, leads to 275, and thence to 75 or 71 maxsolomon Nov 2020 #31
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Nov 2020 #5
Yep, double-decker carrying I-75 and I-71 right over the Ohio into downtown Cincinnati. KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2020 #9
Holeee shiiiit. That's indeed a very busy bridge. Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2020 #7
The Potassium Hydroxide wouldn't be a problem unless the containment opened Blue_true Nov 2020 #10
It's An Old Dominion Truck ProfessorGAC Nov 2020 #12
I was assuming that the KOH was solid. But liquid would be even worse in a way. Blue_true Nov 2020 #13
Back In The 80s... ProfessorGAC Nov 2020 #18
KOH is a very strong reactive base BumRushDaShow Nov 2020 #21
From the photos below, appears to be a smaller truck carrying drums... KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2020 #19
Highly Alkaline Substances Should Not... ProfessorGAC Nov 2020 #23
There's a lot of water in the Ohio Klaralven Nov 2020 #24
It Would ProfessorGAC Nov 2020 #27
It was bad enough that I-75 was always "under construction" along the length for years. BumRushDaShow Nov 2020 #11
Thanks for those pix. I can see why they're concerned about structural damage.... KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2020 #14
I remember years ago walking across one of the adjacent bridges into Covington and back BumRushDaShow Nov 2020 #15
That's dedication to a hobby. During my travels, I collected the little state thimbles.... KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2020 #16
On another trip to Cincinnaiti BumRushDaShow Nov 2020 #20
I think I have been over that bridge many times in my way from COV to our smirkymonkey Nov 2020 #17
No, SM I'm in the Louisville area but prior to retirement.... KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2020 #22
Good for you KY_EnviroGuy for getting involved (eventually) smirkymonkey Nov 2020 #25
Wow. Trying not to be nosy SM,but what area of commerce do you work in.... KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2020 #30
I live north of the bridge about 30 miles. JesterCS Nov 2020 #26
Last I heard the heat was so intense it changed the mechanical properties of the steel. Norbert Nov 2020 #28
Thanks. Here's an update I found on that subject. KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2020 #29
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Major north/south Ohio ri...»Reply #27