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304L vs weak sulfuric acid

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hammer5781

Chemical
Oct 23, 2003
2
Retrofitting a plant in a hurry with a new feedstock which will contain low levels of sulfuric acid. Wash water will be at pH ~1 and contain 0.1 to 0.35 wgt% H2SO4 @ ambient temperature. Existing plant is constructed from 304L SS. Will I retrofit and suddenly find out that I have corrosion issues?
 
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Yes you will have corrosion but the rate will be very low at this concentration.

What is your feed stock?
How is the concentration measured is it total volume or in a water layer or what?
How do you plan to deal with the H2SO4 in your process?

If you raise the temperature or concentrate the H2SO4 this changes everything.

Come back with a little more information as there are a few other problems that may present themselves.

Someone with a set of tables will probably give you some number for the initial conditions
 
The feedstock is a nitrated aromatic delivered as a cake. The nitration is performed via a mixed acid route.

The cake is insoluble in water. The wgt % H2SO4 noted is for the cake wash water - only one phase, etc.

Washing is done at ambient temperature. The wash water could be used in another washing operation but it will not be heated nor will the H2SO4 be recovered. The wash water will eventually be collected and then passed through a waste water treatment system.

Hope this has helped.
 
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