Sodium acetate is an alkaline chemical used primarily to adjust pH in wastewater treatment. Its hydrolysis produces OH⁻, which neutralizes acidic ions such as H⁺ and NH₄⁺ in the water.
The hydrolysis reaction is: CH₃COO⁻ + H₂O ⇌ CH₃COOH + OH⁻.
Sodium acetate was originally used in the printing and dyeing industry and later became widely used in this area due to the demand for wastewater treatment.
It can be used as a supplemental carbon source to acclimate denitrifying sludge, using a buffer solution to control the pH rise within 0.5 during the denitrification process.
Denitrifying bacteria can excessively absorb sodium acetate, maintaining a low COD level in the effluent. Therefore, it is often added as a carbon source to meet Class I discharge standards in urban and county wastewater treatment.
Sodium acetate also stabilizes water quality.
For example, in wastewater containing nitrite and phosphorus, it enhances corrosion inhibition through a synergistic effect.
The appropriate dosage should be determined through testing before use.
Besides wastewater treatment, sodium acetate is also widely used in printing and dyeing, pharmaceuticals, and other fields.
