With a pH greater than 10, I ...
Published by Waymon Hofheins
With a pH greater than 10, I would suggest a two stage neutralization process: probably with sulfuric acid being added to bring the pH down because sulfuric acid is the cheapest acid in most areas. I have installed this process using a pH controller and an chemical injection pump. First of all a small circulating pump needs to be put in place to bring the solution from the first tank to the pH probe with a screen (probably a y strainer with a valve to easily clean) placed in-between the flow and the pH probe. The return water flow will have the sulfuric acid added by the drop into the stream, after the pH probe. The return flow is placed on the opposite side of the tank from the intake to create a circulation. Overflow from the tank near the intake will put a partially neutralized flow into the second tank, where the process is repeated.
I have done this in a single tank where the pH was below 10 (I did this when pH did not exceed 9.5) but above a 10.5 you are going to see free OH: thus the pH adjustment may not be complete in just a single tank operation.
I always try to put a pH recorder on the final discharge to prove that the discharge is in compliance with local regulations.