Bathtube Chemistry

Neutralize with sodium bicarbonate. Of course, it won't be acetic acid any more.

Cover it with plastic film?

Thanks Lynlynch but no dice. Need to keep intact the solvent capabilty of acetic acid.

Hmmm, couldn't anything you add potentially corrupt the reactions you are planning to use the acetic acid for or create secondary reactions that you may not have accounted for?

Secondary reactions? My chemistry doesn´t go as far that but thanks for the heads up. I´ve decided to stick to the original recipe and deal with the vinegar smell later.

Sodium bicarbonate is clearly alkaline. Where did u study chemistry?

Welcome aboard. I certainly hope that's not the best you've got. C'mon in smart ass, let's see what you got.

I must warn you, Lynch will slice you to threads before you even realize you're a member. Good luck!

BTW- I think you'll fit right in.

Your right, smart assness (is that a word?) is not becoming of me. Fun, but not a noteworthy contribution. What about running it through a UV system too? Or de-ionizer?

Could work. But too technical. Thanks for contributing.

Well, well, well,

Thanks for your invaluable contribution.

Lemon juice. It will neutralize vinegar smell and shouldn't effect acetic acid concentration.

kramarat, most welcome your KSS approach. will try it.

Cool, let me know how it works out.

What? Lemon juice is an acid, as is the vinegar. It will not neutralize it. It may mask the smell, though.

To coffeebean: If the lemon juice doesn't mask the odor enough, you could use citric acid instead of the vinegar.

Don't know how accurate this is. All he can do is try it. I don't mind the smell of vinegar, once it evaporates, it's gone.

http://housekeeping.about.com/od/environment/a/lemonscleaning.htm

Good link. Thanks

Mikerho: Citric acid would work but acidic acid is a whole lot cheaper. Thus I´m faced with the vinegar smell issue. From the forum I gather that neutralizing the smell is a misnomer, substituting the smell is more like it.

So, you are getting complaints from the workers about the vinegar smell, and management wants you to come up with a solution without costing them any more money.

Have I got it right?

That is typical of management (and I do not mean all, but most) a$$holes. Most don't understand the bigger picture.

Here is what you need to do: Tell them that, as a chemist, you CANNOT change the properties of chemicals. If you neutralize an acid, you are negating it's effectiveness to do what it does. If you try to mask the odor, you are already adding cost to the process. The most effective way is to find something that can be used as a substitute and that replacing a component is far better for the overall process than adding more components that may have deleterious effects.

What is the cost difference between CH₃CO₂H and citric acid? Have you done an analysis on this?

No, nothing sinister as a management plot to screw the working class though I´ve seen a few of those in my time. But I think you´re right, not much of a price difference between citric and acetic once you factor out the handling and fumes of glacial acetic.

The OP said 8% acetic acid solution and the previous post says glacial acetic... Which is it? Just curious... There's a big difference.

I made the 8% solution from 99% acetic acid. I misused the term glacial acetic. Thanks

Activated charcoal works too

You cannot eliminate the smell of vinegar from acetic acid except by masking it with another stronger smell or something like that, without changing it nature (i.e. acetic acid!). Good luck!

Added rose itar and you will mask it

What's so special about acetic acid? Could you try citric acid instead? It's an organic acid, non-volatile and no odor. Or glyoxylic acid? What do you need your acid solution to do?Give us a little more info!

I'd like a little more info on what he's up to also. I think the lemon juice will help with the smell, but probably not eliminate it completely.

Ah - I see - well I saw in a movie once that a Poodle in heat will distract a K9

Well yes but acetic gives more pound for your penny.

But acetic has the odor. The others don't. How bad do you want to get rid of the odor?

Acetic acid fumes will show up due to the high volatility. To suppress the vinegar odour without lose of acidic properties the following options can be tried.

*addition of pine oil in required quantities-the turpentine smell will suppress vinegar odour.

* There are aromatic perfumeries available like Citrol, jasmine,sandal, bakery product essences like vanilla etc.

* Camphor oil is another option.

You got to choose as per suppression extent and cost factor.

During the addition of any one of the above said additives, if you find any separation of layers, add feeble amount of anionic or non ionic emulsifier or wetting agent or detergent to counter surface tensioner between the immiscible layers.

Thans for the tips.

Esters are sweet smelling organic compounds made from organic acids (e.g. acetone) and an alcohol. You already have half of this so try adding a small amount of an alcohol. The smells that these produce vary depending on the two parent molecules. They should be stable in the acetic acid as well.

It is a very long time since I learnt this at school, so a bit or R&D on the combinations could help.

Cheers

Worrier

Meant to say acetic acid not acetone in the previous comment.

Oh all right - 'serious answer' time ...

Label it "Lemon Fresh"

They'll love the "Tangy Power!".

That is typical of management (and I do not mean all, but most). Most don't understand the bigger picture.Here is what you need to do: Tell them that, as a chemist, you CANNOT change the properties of chemicals. If you neutralize an acid, you are negating it's effectiveness to do what it does. If you try to mask the odor, you are already adding cost to the process. The most effective way is to find something that can be used as a substitute and that replacing a component is far better for the overall process than adding more components that may have deleterious effects.

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Well, I don't know whether to be offended or pleased at the obvious plagiarism (Post #33, this thread).

At any rate, my lawyers will be in touch!

Actually as a chemist he is suppsoed to be the person most qualified and knowledgable about not only how to change the properties of chemicals but also exactly what changes should be expected and what secondary reactions (or byproducts) could occur. Example, change the temperature from STP to 2^o C, and you change numerous properties, e.g. reaction kinetics, secondary reaction kinetics, pK values, pH/pOH, ion concentrations/precitpitation, etc.

Did you not notice that pradap plagiarized my post (#33)?

Coffeebean is not a chemist by his own admission, so much of what is given as advice here is lost on him. He wants to make a cleaning solution in his bathtube, and won't take advice from chemists because he thinks he knows better, although he is very polite about it. I am through helping him here for that very reason.

He is like typical management in that; when an engineered solution takes money up front, they would discredit it outright, even though it could be shown that over a period of time, the profits would be there.

Mikerho,

I consider you one of the heavyweights in CR4 and have always followed your posts and comments with interest. But I take exception to your stereotyping. Please don´t. I´ve been in both sides of the fence and have seen my share of workplace intrigue. The question I posted was answered thoroughly, even got more than I bargained for. So thanks again to everyone who contributed, and my special thanks to you.