What are environmental concerns with cooling water inhibitors?
To optimal performance, cooling water systems, particularly those with cooling towers at their core, must be protected from corrosion, scaling, and microbial fouling.It is critical to treat these processes holistically, and a fourth, increasingly essential consideration is the environmental effect of control approaches.
Environmental Issues Concerning Corrosion/Scaling Treatment
The requirement for enhanced corrosion/scaling prevention with lower phosphorus discharge in cooling tower blowdown is perhaps the most pressing environmental concern. For the past four decades, the most typical cooling water treatment procedures for big industrial cooling tower-based systems have relied on a mix of inorganic and organic phosphate (aka, phosphonate) chemistry. Prior to then, the most common corrosion treatment comprised utilizing modest doses of sulphuric acid to eliminate bicarbonate alkalinity (the precursor to calcium carbonate scale) and chromate to reduce corrosion potential. Because this treatment procedure produced harmful hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), it was nearly totally phased out in the 1980s.
The knowledge of Cr6+ toxicity prompted a relatively quick shift to phosphate-based chemistry for scale and corrosion prevention. These programs often operate at a somewhat alkaline pH, which reduces overall corrosion. Phosphate reacts with ferrous ions formed at anodic sites on carbon steel to form a reaction-limiting deposit, while precipitates in the nearby alkaline environment at cathodic sites to hinder electron transport. Nonetheless, even minor disruptions in phosphate programs might result in significant calcium phosphate fouling.
Two major variables are driving the shift away from phosphate-based chemistry. One such concern is phosphorus discharge, which is becoming increasingly troublesome due to its influence on the growth of poisonous algal blooms in receiving bodies of water. The second is evidence that alternative non-phosphate programs are more successful for scale control and corrosion protection, both technically and economically.
Phosphate's Impact on the Natural Environment
Phosphorus, like nitrogen and carbon, is a nutrient that is required by all living things. It is also frequently the limiting factor in the creation of harmful algal blooms, which has grown increasingly widespread across the country.
Aspects to Consider for Your Cooling Systems
Q1: Do you require a phosphorous-free or low-phosphorous program?
If the blowdown is going directly into the environment, you may want to adopt a low or no phosphorous scheme.
Q2: Is your waste sent to a biological treatment plant?
If the blowdown is sent to a biological treatment facility, phosphorus is required for biological treatment.If your blowdown is sent to a biological treatment plant, you must guarantee that the chemicals in the cooling system are destroyed and do not harm the bacteria.
Q3: Does your waste go through a recycling process?
Ensure that the chemicals in the blowdown are compatible with the procedure where the water is recycled.
Q4: Does your waste end up in the environment?
Look for low or no P programs and items that are easily or naturally biodegradable.
Q5: Is there room for improvement in terms of local social responsibilities?
Research corporate or local green projects and what chemicals could be useful.
Conclusion
Recent advancements in inhibitor chemistry have resulted in great performance with non-metallic compounds and products that do not include phosphorus or perform with lesser phosphorus-based compounds. The use of alternate application methods (solid-based chemistry versus liquid chemistry) reduces packaging, transportation, and manual handling expenses.
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