STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
10% (3.7% actual) Hydrochloric Acid Bath Prep and Washing
1. Location(s): fill in building(s) and room number(s) here
2. Chemical(s):
A. Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
B. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, NaHCO3) or
C. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
3. Specific Hazards:
A. Hydrochloric acid: Very hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, irritant, permeator), eye contact
(irritant, corrosive), ingestion, or inhalation.
B. Sodium bicarbonate: Slightly to moderately irritating to mucous membranes and eyes.
C. Sodium hydroxide: Causes severe burns by all exposure routes, water reactive, hygroscopic.
4. Purchasing:
All purchases of these materials must have approval from the lab director or the Department Chemical
Hygiene/Safety Officer before ordering. Quantities of this material will be limited to the smallest amount
necessary to complete the experiments.
5. Storage:
Materials will be stored according to compatibility and label recommendations in the designated acid storage
area. Storage areas will be regularly inspected by lab personnel to ensure safety. Periodic inventory reductions
will be scheduled.
6. Authorized personnel:
Use will be limited to the following personnel (check all that apply):
Principal Investigator __
Graduate students_
Post-doctoral employees__
Undergraduates ___
Technical staff __
Other (___________)
7. Training requirements:
The user must demonstrate competency and familiarity regarding the safe handling and use of these materials
prior to using them. Training shall include the following:
A. Review of this SOP
B. Review of applicable SDSs
C. UAF Laboratory Safety training
D. UAF Hazardous Waste Management training
E. UAF Chemical Hygiene Plan
8. Use location:
This procedure will be done in room number and building in the fume hood
9. Personal protective equipment (PPE):
All personnel are required to wear the following personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever conducting this
procedure:
A. Chemically resistant lab coat
B. Safety goggles
C. Nitrile, rubber or neoprene gloves (long arm-length styled preferred)
D. Long pants, long-sleeved shirt, closed-toed shoes (no sandals or mesh-topped shoes)
10. Spill equipment:
A. Universal absorbent pads
B. Sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, or acid neutralizer
C. Plastic whisk broom and pan
D. Labeled waste bags
11. Procedure:
A. Procedure Notes:
1. Use the formula (M1)(V1)=(M2)(V2) where M is the molarity (37% concentrated, 10% final) and V is
the volume to determine amount of concentrated hydrochloric acid needed. The amount of water is
determined by the amount of HCl plus whatever is needed to bring the solution up to the final
desired volume.
2. Always add acid to water
3. All glassware should be acid washed on the same day that it is used
4. Glassware must be acid washed in a fume hood
5. Recommend that if acid wash tub is large that it be put up on blocks to improve air flow around the
tub in the fume hood
B. Materials needed:
1. Concentrated hydrochloric acid
2. Double distilled RO water or deionized water
3. Acid bath tub with lid, labeled with full chemical name and concentration
4. Graduated cylinders
5. Stir rods
6. Glassware rinse tub
7. Glassware transport tub
8. Sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide or acid neutralizer
9. pH paper
10. Siphon hose
C. Procedure Steps:
1. Don lab coat, lab apron, safety goggles, and gloves
2. Place the acid bath tub in fume hood and fill with XX L of double distilled RO or deionized water
3. Carefully pour concentrated HCl into graduated cylinder to XX L/mL
4. Slowly pour hydrochloric acid into the water, watch for dripping on outside of cylinder
5. Mix thoroughly with stir rod and place lid on acid bath tub if not being used immediately
6. Fill rinse tub with deionized water and place in fume hood
7. Place glassware that is to be washed in tub and transport to fume hood
8. Place glassware in acid bath making sure to completely immerse all items in acid solution
9. Rinse transport tub with deionized water
10. Drain glassware back into the acid bath and transfer the glassware to the rinse tub making sure that
all items are completely immersed in rinse water
11. Drain glassware back into acid bath and place in transport tub
12. Rinse glassware with RO water a minimum of 6 times
13. Place washed items on drying rack (make sure items are inverted)
14. Check pH of water in rinse tub and neutralize with sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide or acid
neutralizer to a pH of 5-10 before disposing down drain
15. After the acid washing is complete, put the cover on the acid bath tub
12. Waste disposal and clean up:
The authorized person using this material is responsible for the safe collection, preparation and proper disposal
of waste unless otherwise stated below. Waste shall be disposed of as soon as possible and in accordance with
all laboratory and University procedures.
A. Don PPE
B. Carefully neutralize the acid bath solution with sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide or acid
neutralizer to a pH of 5-10
C. If no sink in the fume hood, place lid on neutralized acid bath, place on cart and transport to the
laboratory sink. Do not hand carry.
D. Immerse the siphon hose in the acid bath until the hose is full
E. Pinch or place a finger or thumb over each end
F. Put one end of the siphon hose in the sink and keep the other end in the acid bath
G. Release ends of hose to start the flow of acid bath mixture into the sink
H. Run water at the same time to flush thoroughly down the drain
I. Make sure the bath container is completely clean and free of particulates
13. Decontamination:
A. Triple-rinse any non-disposable items with water
B. Wipe the fume hood and counter surfaces with a paper towel or absorbent pad and water to prevent
corrosion
14. Exposures: Emergency procedures to be followed (from SDS): Call EHSRM immediately to report the spill and
to request waste pickup (474-5617). Wash hands and forearms thoroughly after cleaning up the area.
A. Hydrochloric acid
1. Eyes: Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
2. Skin: Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately. Wash with soap and plenty of
water. Consult a physician.
3. Ingestion: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water. Consult a physician.
4. Inhalation: If breathed in, move person into fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
B. Sodium bicarbonate
1. Eyes: Check for and remove contacts. Flood eyes with clean flowing water, low pressure and
lukewarm (not hot) if possible, occasionally lifting eyelids.
2. Skin: Wash with soap and water. Cover the irritated skin with an emollient. Get medical
attention if irritation develops. Cold water may be used.
3. Ingestion: If large amounts of this material are swallowed, do not induce vomiting. Administer
water if person is conscious. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
4. Inhalation: move to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult,
give oxygen. Get medical attention.
C. Sodium hydroxide
1. Eyes: Immediately rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention
immediately
2. Skin: Immediately flush with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing
contaminated clothing and wash using soap. Get medical attention immediately.
3. Ingestion: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
If conscious, wash out mouth with water. Get medical attention immediately.
4. Inhalation: Move to fresh air and keep at rest. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. If not
breathing, give artificial respiration. Get medical attention immediately.
15. Spills:
A. In case of a spill outside of the fume hood: evacuate the area. Immediately call 474-5617 (EHSRM
Hazmat), 474-7721 (UAF Dispatch), or 911 (if serious injury or exposure has occurred) to report the spill
and request cleanup assistance.
B. In case of a spill inside the fume hood:
1. Do not turn the fume hood off until area is cleaned
2. Continue to wear gloves, lab coat, and chemical safety goggles
3. Absorb the spill with universal absorbent pads or neutralize with sodium bicarbonate or acid
neutralizer
4. Sweep solids with plastic dust pan and whisk broom and place in labeled, appropriate waste
container
5. Cap or tie shut waste container
6. Wash the area with water
7. Place gloves in labeled waste bag
8. Call EHSRM immediately to report the spill and to request waste pickup (474-5617)
9. Wash hands and forearms thoroughly after cleaning up the area
16. Phone numbers:
EHSRM Hazardous Materials (to report spills, request assistance, request pickup of wastes)
474-5617
EHSRM Industrial Hygiene (if Hazardous Materials not available; assistance with exposures)
474-6771
EHSRM office (if Hazardous Materials or Industrial Hygiene not available)
474-5413
University of Alaska Fairbanks Emergency Response (serious accidents, fire)
911
Prepared by: _______________________________________________
Date: _____________________________________
Reviewed/Revised: ___________________________________________