CHEMICAL REACTIONS DURING CHEMICAL CLEANING

1. Degreasing –

Process (Oil & Grease removal) –

CH2 – COOR’ CH2 - COONa

‫׀‬ 70 ºc ‫׀‬
CH – COOR” + 3 NaOH CH – COONa + 3 H2O
‫׀‬ ‫׀‬
CH2 – COOR” CH2 - COONa
Oil & grease (Fatty acid) (sodium salt )

a) System filling with condensate or DM water & circulation.

b) Temperature rise to 70 ºc
c) Chemicals addition –
(i) Soda Ash - 3000 ppm
(ii) Caustic Soda - 3000 ppm
(iii) Sodium Nitrite - 500 ppm (Sodium nitrite is added to protect
steel from caustic embrittlement)
(iv) Wetting Agent - 200 ppm (it is used as scouring and
emulsifying agent)

2. Acid Pickling –

Process (Iron Removal) –

70 ºc
Fe2O3 + 2 H3 Citrate 2 Fe Citrate + 3 H2O

Ferric Oxide Citric Acid Ferric Citrate

3. Citric Rinse & Passivation –

Process -
NH3
Fe2O3 + C6H8O7 FAC (Ferrous ammonium citrate)
(mill scale) (Citric Acid) pH 9 - 9.5

C6H8O7 + NH3 + NaNO2 Fe3O4 ( Magnetite Layer )

(This process is called 60 ºc
Citrosolv Process. )