Water Technologies & Solutions
Case study
Steamate* FM1007 provides effective steam
condensate treatment for organic food manufacturer
Introduction
Many organic food manufacturing
processes require steam. Steam boiler
feedwater is typically treated with
chemicals to prevent naturally occurring
contaminants, such as carbon dioxide
and dissolved oxygen, from causing
The only organic corrosion failures in the plant’s steam
distribution system.
food condensate As the steam transfers heat to the
treatment on market process, it condenses back into liquid
water, and contaminants such as carbon
dioxide and dissolved oxygen can cause
corrosion of the condensate return metal
piping.
The corrosion of metal contact surfaces
can cause serious issues where steam is
used in organic food manufacturing.
These include premature equipment
failure, loss of thermal efficiency due to
Iron protection meets the accumulation of metal corrosion
<0.3 ppm Fe target products on heat transfer surfaces, and
perhaps most seriously, the transport of
metallic corrosion products to the
organic food products where the steam is
used directly in the process.
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CS1656EN.docx Oct-21
The typical steam condensate corrosion
inhibitors, many of which are compliant
with US FDA regulations for direct steam
food contact, such as volatile organic
amines and surface filming inhibitors,
are not compliant with the USDA
National Organic Program guidelines for
organic food production. Therefore,
many plants that manufacture organic
food products elect not to treat their
condensate systems, exposing them to
serious operational risks.
Challenge
A major US-based cereal manufacturer
decided to pursue organic certification
for one of their cereal brands. As a result
of an audit conducted by an accredited
organic certifying agency, they were
required to discontinue the application of
their longstanding steam condensate
corrosion inhibitor.
The incumbent FDA-compliant, non-
amine filming product had provided good
results, with steam condensate iron
levels averaging approximately 0.10 ppm
Fe despite persistent boiler water
carryover events that were impacting
film stability.
Solution
SUEZ proposed submitting the new proprietary
Steamate FM1007 product for approval by the site’s
organic certifying agency. The product was reviewed
and approved for organic food production, and a trial
protocol was developed.
Steamate FM1007 was developed to effectively and
safely treat condensate systems for organic food
products manufacturers. The proprietary corrosion
inhibitor in Steamate FM1007 is compliant with the
National Organic Program as defined by USDA 7 CFR
205.606 for non-organically produced agricultural
products utilized in organic food processing where
contact with the food substance is made.
The key performance parameter required by the
customer for trial success was the maintenance of
steam condensate iron levels consistently below 0.30
ppm Fe.
Results
The key comparative steam condensate data for the
incumbent treatment and the Steamate FM1007
program are summarized in Figures 1 and 2.
The mean condensate iron level on the incumbent
filming steam treatment was 0.090 ppm Fe, while for
Steamate FM1007, the mean iron level was slightly
higher, at 0.125 ppm Fe, which was still well below the
required limit of 0.30 ppm Fe.
Figure 1 – Steam condensate iron profile before & after the
Steamate FM1007 feed
One difference between the incumbent product and
Steamate FM1007 feed periods was the significant
increase in boiler water carryover, as reflected by the
30% increase in steam-condensate conductivity during
Page 2
the Steamate FM1007 feed period. This is
summarized in Figure 2.
As mentioned, highly alkaline and conductive boiler
water contacting the steam system surfaces will
destabilize the protective film formed by Steamate
FM1007. The film will be re-established rapidly
following carryover incidents, but corrosion
protection will be temporarily compromised to some
extent.
Figure 2 – Steam condensate conductivity profile before
& after the Steamate FM1007 feed
As the trial of Steamate FM1007 progressed, a
comparison of the level of corrosion protection
provided by Steamate FM1007 was made at multiple
steam condensate sample points with comparison to
an untreated condition. Notably, boiler water
carryover was well controlled during this period.
As expected, with no anti-corrosion treatment added,
high levels of corrosion occurred. The average iron
level recorded at the four condensate sample sites
was 5.0 ppm as Fe, which is much higher than the
recommended ASME feedwater limit of 0.1 ppm for a
boiler operating in this pressure range.
With Steamate FM1007 treatment, the average iron
level in the condensate was 0.10 ppm as Fe, with
three of the four sample sites below 0.1 ppm.
Based on the results of this trial, Steamate FM1007
was approved as an ongoing application at this and
two other organic branded cereal production facilities
by this customer.
Steamate FM1007 is the only direct steam additive, to
our knowledge, that is approved by multiple organic
certifying agencies where the steam directly contacts
the organic food product.
CS1656EN.docx