weak acid

[Kiyomi2]

I have weak acid stream which contains 0.37 wt% H2SO3 (sulfurous acid) and 0.12 wt% H2SO4, and pH of 1 – 2. I am planning to install a neutralizing system with caustic to increase the pH up to 6 – 7. The chemist at this facility told me to oxidize sulfurous acid and convert it to H2SO4 then neutralize it before send it to the wast water treatment plan. He told me that the weak acid will be corrosive even after it has been neutralized unless the sulfurous acid has been oxidized. Is that true?

 

[unclesyd]

You need to look at power plant scrubbing systems were they use calcium carbonate to absorb the sulphur compounds.
I did some work many years ago on the addition of an Organic acid or a mixture of same to the mix to drive the reaction. If I recall there where no problems with corrosion based on composition of the input gas stream. Carbon Steel was out and the equipment was fabricate from SS, 316L SS in our case.