Which of the following would not be effective at raising the pH of wastewater?

Raising the pH of wastewater involves adding substances that are basic or alkaline in nature. Hydrated lime, sodium hydroxide, and soda ash are all alkaline materials that can effectively increase the pH of wastewater.

Hydrated lime, composed of calcium hydroxide, reacts with water to produce hydroxide ions, which raise the pH. Similarly, sodium hydroxide is a strong base that directly contributes hydroxide ions, resulting in an increase in pH. Soda ash, or sodium carbonate, also contributes to raising the pH by forming sodium hydroxide when dissolved in water.

On the other hand, muriatic acid, which is a diluted form of hydrochloric acid, contains hydrogen ions that lower pH levels rather than raise them. Therefore, it is not an appropriate choice for increasing the pH of wastewater, making it the only option that would not be effective for this purpose.