• The recovery of organic acids requires acidification with concentrated HCl solution. Recall that in the extraction step for the separation of an organic acid either dilute NaHCO₃ or NaOH was used. Concentrated HCl will now help minimize the volume of the final aqueous solution.
  
  
• Acidification must be done carefully, because the acid-base neutralization reaction is quite exothermic.
  
  
• Check the pH of the solution to make sure that it is acidic. (~pH 3)

Organic Web Chem University of Alberta