Description
Operate and tend acid-processing equipment to control chemical reactions, dilution, pickling, and neutralization for industrial products. Equipment includes acid-resistant tanks, steam-jacketed kettles, reactors, scrubbers, and related transfer systems.
- • Adjust controls to regulate temperature, pressure, acid feed and flow, and reaction times per procedures.
- • Follow corrosive-material and gas safety procedures to prevent burns, releases, fires, or explosions.
- • Monitor gauges, pH/ORP meters, flowmeters, and level or pressure indicators to maintain specified conditions.
- • Operate reactors, acid tanks, pickling lines, dilution skids, and scrubbers where acid reactions occur.
- • Measure and mix acids, water, inhibitors, and additives to specifications, adding acid to water.
- • Inspect acid systems for leaks, corrosion, or malfunctions and shut down or isolate as needed.
- • Patrol acid handling areas to detect leaks, fumes, or abnormal operating conditions.
- • Test samples for acidity or normality, specific gravity, pH, metal content, and viscosity, or send to the lab.
- • Draw acid or product samples at prescribed stages for analysis.
- • Record temperatures, pressures, flows, concentrations, batch ingredients, times, and test results.
- • Notify maintenance of equipment issues and assist with lockout/tagout on acid systems.
- • Add neutralizers, inhibitors, or precipitants and pump solutions through filters, scrubbers, or centrifuges to remove impurities.
- • Start pumps, agitators, blowers, dosing systems, and open or close valves to control acid transfer and mixing.
- • Read SOPs and batch sheets to determine acid strengths, additives, or required process adjustments.
- • Drain and flush tanks, lines, and reactors with water or neutralizing solutions to clean and decontaminate.
- • Perform minor maintenance and lubrication on acid-resistant equipment using appropriate tools and PPE.
- • Clean equipment using water or steam and alkaline washes; mechanically rod or ream plugged lines.
- • Observe solution color, clarity, and foaming and compare to instrument readings and lab standards.
- • Implement spill, exposure, and release response procedures for acids.
- • Charge prescribed solid additives, inhibitors, or salts into acid tanks.
- • Estimate required quantities of acids, water, neutralizers, and additives for production.
- • Inventory acids, caustics, inhibitors, gaskets, and PPE received and consumed.
- • Direct helpers in unloading acid deliveries, sampling, and process verification.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
