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Bit of a random one. My work generates alot of these packs of lime dessicant and I am wondering if it is ok to put them in the general waste (that all gets incinerated by the council). does it cause polution when burnt or should i just spread it around on some grass as I heard gardeners use it to modify the PH of soil. A web search says should go where no water as can cause a fire. Any other uses for this stuff. Thanks.
Edit, its lime dessicant rather than the silica stuff so is it then ok to mix it in with the curry? đŸ™‚
DO NOT EAT
Chucking them in a pale of water might be fun, but if they're already moisture saturated nothing much will happen.
Calcium oxide is the by-product of high temperature combustion of calcium carbonate. Once used as a dessicant, it will have reacted with either the moisture or CO2 in the atmosphere to either reform calcium carbonate or become calcium hydroxide. Burning it again is just going to turn it back to calcium oxide. So no real environmental impact. Burning the plastic sachet it comes in is probably worse, then again sending those directly to landfill isn't great either.
TLDR: Envorinmentally, It doesn't really matter how you dispose of the dessicant (combustion or landfill = same same), it's the pouch that's the problem.
Assuming it is lime (product of thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate) then you could snip the packet and dissolve it in water, or add to acidic soil, pretty exothermic if dry when added to water so I'd avoid stockpiling it.
Are you sure they're lime, and not silica gel?
Calcium hydroxide is pretty insoluble in water. How much do these packs weigh and how many are you disposing of at a time?
You've seen fight club?
They are maybe 100g when dry. about 3 per week. Thanks for replies. Sounds like if they are saturated with water going in the bin or on some soil wont be a problem.
Put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning.
Give them to British sailors to ward off scurvy?
Oh yeah also pretty damn alkaline, good for dissolving bodies, so don't leave sitting around.
Give them to Brexiteers to ward off starvation?
Sounds like if they are saturated with water going in the bin or on some soil wont be a problem.
Being as it’s trade waste it needs to go in the bin. Deliberately spreading waste chemicals on soil is a criminal offence.