Corrosion withh maleic acid

[Lnz]

Does anyone have some experience of corrosion with maleic acid? We installed a new distillation column on the top of a reactor producing resins: after 2 years, today we opened the column and found only 20 cm of Raschig bodies instead of 3 meters (the height of the column). Also the Norton distributor on the top of the column is seriously damaged.
They both are in AISI 304, so I tihnk the material is not right for maleic acid. Does anyone of you have some data about corrosion of the materials with maleic acid?
Thank you
Lorenzo

 

[25362]

From literature, SS 316 amd SS 316L are better than SS 304 for aggressive organic acids, in general, and in the condensing vapour stage in particular. Thus, I assume that maleic acid is no exception.

Good luck.