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Chemistry (including Biochemistry)/Calcium chloride from water softener

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Expert: - 7/12/2009


Question
I understand that calcium chloride is discharged from a ion exchange water softener. Instead of rinsing the discharge water down your drain, would it be possible to recapture the calcium chloride, dry it to a powder, and use it as an ice melter on your driveway? Would it still melt ice as a solution instead of dry?

Answer
It is possible, but the problem is getting it down to a useable level.  If my calculation is correct, at best you would only get 1-2 pounds of dried salt per month if you collected everything and it was very hard water.  Most would not get near that much.  The cost to dry it would far exceed the cost to buy it in a store (not even counting your time).  A solution might work, but storage is going to be the problem and it will not work as well unless you concentrate it.  If really cold the solution will freeze and you end up with more ice on the driveway.  Lastly, there is going to be more than calcium present.  Things like iron and manganese can stain a driveway.

You could try a 55 gallon barrel full to see how it works, but beware the drawbacks.

Chemistry (including Biochemistry)

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Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.

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Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.

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PhD, MS, BS in Chemistry

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