Analysis of saltwater scaling in electrolyzers causing pipeline blockage
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In our company, scaling in the brine used in electrolyzers has caused blockages in the brine supply manifolds; this issue also occurs in the fresh brine tanks. The solid substances were sent to a university laboratory for analysis of their composition. (These solids are likely to be precipitates, as a thick layer of them also formed on the back side of the filters used to supply brine, and they have a milky white color.) Below are the results of the mass spectrometry analysis of the precipitates found in the fresh brine tanks: Number, Name, Molecular Formula, Structure, CAS Number, Matching Degree, Percentage Content. Peak 1: Hexachloroethane, C2Cl6; file:///C:/DOCUME~1/ADMINI~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg; 67 – 72; -1; 94; 51.49. Peak 2: 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate, C11H20O2; file:///C:/DOCUME~1/ADMINI~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.jpg; 103 – 11; 7; 95; 26.10. Peak 3: Pentachlorocyclopropane, C3HCl5; file:///C:/DOCUME~1/ADMINI~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image006.jpg; 6262 – 51; 7; 66; 3.84. Peak 4: Octachloropropane, C3Cl8; file:///C:/DOCUME~1/ADMINI~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg; 594 – 90; -1; 88; 18.57. A photo of the brine filter used to supply brine is shown below: file:///C:/DOCUME~1/ADMINI~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg
It was sent out; the images are gone and the table is in disarray. The main components analyzed are hexachloroethane, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, octachloropropane, and pentachlorocyclopropane
Estimation: 1. The broken resin has its chains cleaved by chlorine, resulting in alkyl chlorides. 2. The sealing grease in the electrolyzer gaskets is oxidized by chlorine. 3. Trace organic substances in the brine are oxidized by chlorine into alkyl compounds