Which chemical is commonly used for final effluent pH reduction from pH 8.82 to 8.0?

The use of dilute sulfuric acid for final effluent pH reduction is appropriate because sulfuric acid is a strong acid that can effectively lower pH levels in wastewater. When added to water, sulfuric acid dissociates to release hydrogen ions, which are responsible for decreasing the pH. In the scenario where the pH is reduced from 8.82 to 8.0, the addition of dilute sulfuric acid provides the necessary acidic conditions to achieve that target pH effectively.

In contrast, hydrochloric acid, while also a strong acid, might be restricted in specific wastewater treatment processes due to its corrosive nature. Sodium hydroxide is a base, which would raise the pH instead of lowering it. Calcium carbonate is a buffering agent that can moderate pH fluctuations but is not effective for significant pH reduction like that needed in this situation.

Therefore, the choice of dilute sulfuric acid aligns well with the need to achieve a precise and effective reduction in pH for wastewater treatment.