Does sulfuric acid react with copper?
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Dear experts: I have a question and would appreciate your guidance. Here’s what happens: Our factory uses waste molasses in the fermentation workshop to produce alcohol. During the fermentation process, some sulfuric acid must be added to the fermenter in order to adjust its pH value, bringing it to 4.5 as a way to suppress unwanted microorganisms. The matured fermented mash is sent for distillation. This set of distillation towers is old equipment that has not been in use for many years. The mash enters the first column: the crude distillation column ； The primary alcohol separated in the crude distillation tower (crude alcohol vapor) enters a second column for distillation. The trays in the first column (the crude distillation column) are stainless steel bubble trays ； Both the tray and the shell of the second column are made of stainless steel, with copper bubble caps installed on the trays. One week after production, the machine is shut down for inspection and maintenance. It was found that many of the copper bubbles on the second tray were damaged; judging from their condition, it seems they were corroded. The specific situation is as shown in the photos: I believe it was sulfuric acid added to the fermentation tank that caused corrosion to the copper bubbles during distillation. I would appreciate it if everyone could help me analyze and give me some advice.
There is sulfuric acid in the mash; try adjusting the pH to above neutral first.
Have you never done any experiments with copper sheets? The original poster is really generous
It seems that sulfuric acid is the cause of the blistering. In the future, I plan to replace the copper blisters with stainless steel ones.
Friends, we have also added a substance called “sodium metabisulfite” to our fermentation tanks; from what I’ve researched, it releases SO2 as well. Please consider analyzing it again and offer some guidance. Could sodium metabisulfite added to the fermentation tank also cause corrosion to the copper bubbles? ? ?
During today’s discussion, I learned some new information: the workshop supervisor said that a few days ago, the crude distillation tower was cleaned using alkaline water (NaOH), and some of this alkaline water entered the second tower; the copper bubbles remained in that alkaline water for over five days. The director said he believed that NaOH was responsible for the corrosion of the copper blisters. Friends, does NaOH react with copper and cause corrosion? I hope you can offer some guidance.
No reaction; sulfuric acid reacts with copper due to its oxidizing property, while sulfurous acid does not have sufficient oxidizing power.
Ask your supervisor about this. Personally, I think you’ve been deceived
The copper on the glasses has been corroded by sweat, let alone sulfuric acid
Tell the director that when you go down, I’ll go up; with what Hai Chuan has learned, it’s more than enough to be a director
Also, ask your supervisor to come to Haichuan to learn* learn* as well
It’s clear that having HaiChuan by one’s side gives a different sense of confidence, huh; P
It’s clear that having HaiChuan by one’s side gives a different sense of confidence, huh; P
In dilute sulfuric acid, at low temperatures (room temperature), sulfuric acid does not react with copper. It needs to be heated; I don’t know what the temperature is.
In dilute sulfuric acid, at low temperatures (room temperature), sulfuric acid does not react with copper. It needs to be heated; I don’t know what the temperature is.
This experiment is done in junior high school chemistry classes; heating sulfuric acid dissolves copper
Is the product copper sulfate? And the corrosive medium is sulfuric acid? First of all, the color after corrosion definitely isn’t that of copper sulfate ； Secondly, at pH 4.5, if copper is corroded by sulfuric acid, why isn’t stainless steel corroded by it?
The cylinder material of the tower is 304 stainless steel. I’ve been using it, and there are no problems.