What will happen if methanol leaks into the circulating water system?

Methanol enters the circulating water, turning it into fake alcohol; the more methanol that enters, the higher the alcohol content. Haha!

What you say makes sense; it’s a shame this wine can’t be drunk. Haha. :D

The pH and COD of the circulating water will increase, the amount of chlorine used for disinfection will rise, and it is possible that no residual chlorine will be detected. When the leakage amount is high, foam is also produced. The rate at which sludge is formed in circulating water increases, leading to sludge-related problems.

This post was last edited by hxm2087 on 2012-5-8 21:13. The pollution of water quality caused by trace amounts of methanol: ① A large amount of foam is generated in the circulating water; this foam is fine and dense, and it is insoluble in water. After 2 days, the amount of foam increased significantly. Foam formation follows a certain pattern: it is produced in large quantities after chlorination during the day, while foam formation is suppressed at night; a peak in foam production occurs every 3-4 days. 　　②After foam formation, the turbidity of the circulating water rises sharply (see Figure 1). As foam forms a paste-like suspension on the surface of the water, it makes the water turn white and cloudy, reducing its transparency. 　　③Heterotrophic bacteria and fungi in the circulating water proliferate rapidly (see Figure 2; the values for heterotrophic bacteria are on a logarithmic scale). The concentration of heterotrophic bacteria is 100 times higher than normal, while the number of fungi increases from a few per milliliter to 20 per milliliter; after a few days, it becomes impossible to count the fungi. In the circulating water, protozoa begin to reproduce, with an increasing variety and number; the amount of biological sludge also increases, and it takes on a light red color.

I’m a bit confused about what was meant by the foam mentioned on floor 5. Such foam only appears when there is an oil leak in our factory; I’ve never heard of foam forming in the case of methanol leaks. Please provide a detailed explanation from floor 5；

To reiterate the issue of methanol leakage: there were also instances of methanol leakage in our plant in the past. After asking several managers, they all said that no foaming occurred, and the methanol concentration in the circulating water was 40 PPm. Two days later, a large amount of white flocculent suspended particles appeared; when dried in the sun, they resembled wood ear mushrooms.

The addition of biocides results in a large amount of white foam, especially with non-oxidizing biocides.

There are many types of non-oxidizing fungicides. Those that produce foam contain surfactants as components; quaternary ammonium salt-based fungicides generate a large amount of foam, and they are also among the main types of fungicidal agents. Some stripping agents also contain certain amounts of quaternary ammonium salts. It is possible to use fungicides that do not produce foam, such as non-oxidizing fungicides like thiabendazole

Although non-oxidizing bactericides of the thiazolidine class do not produce foam when used, their sludge-removing effect is poor, far inferior to that of quaternary ammonium salt bactericides such as 1227. It is necessary to add 10–20 ppm of defoamer when using them, especially in water circulation systems equipped with air separation units. Remember! ! It is best to temporarily use fire-fighting water as a substitute for the air separation circulating water during use; this is the safest approach.

Have you found an answer to this phenomenon? ? Our factory also faces this issue; please advise