INTRODUCTION:
Chemical cleaning of equipment and piping networks, performed to clear all metal surfaces of chemical or physical pollution (inclusions, fatty matter, welding waste, pitting, slag and sand, oxides, etc.) liable to affect installation or contaminate the fluids conveyed.
It involves:
- surface cleaning (degreasing, pickling),
- conditioning (passivation, neutralization and drying) and
- conservation procedures.
The treatments may be performed for carbon steels, stainless steels, copper and aluminium alloys.
The treatments must be suited to the grades, size and geometry of the items treated.
Pickling is a metal surface treatment used to remove impurities, such as stains, inorganic contaminants, rust or scale from ferrous metals, copper, and aluminum alloys. A solution called pickle liquor, which contains strong acids, is used to remove the surface impurities. It is commonly used to descale or clean steel in various steelmaking processes.
- Pickling is metal surface cleaning process from scales or corrosion product using acid solution.
- Pickling process involve inhibitor to protect base metal from acid solution using.
Example pickling application:
- Material Name: Duplex Stainless Steel, equipments: Cup brush (CAS-31 Stainless Steel Wire), paint brush, nikko steel (NS – Stainclean), Hardener (UT-R-20)
- Material Name: SS 304 , inhibitor : Quinoline (C9H7N), pickling solution (Larutan pickling) : HCl
Passivation, in physical chemistry and engineering, refers to a material becoming “passive,” that is, being less affected by environmental factors such as air and water. Passivation involves a shielding outer-layer of base material, which can be applied as a microcoating, or which occurs spontaneously in nature. As a technique, passivation is the use of a light coat of a protective material, such as metal oxide, to create a shell against corrosion. The technique of passivation is used to strengthen and preserve the appearance of metallics.
Notes:
The term passivation is commonly applied to several distinctly different operations or processes relating to stainless steels. In order to avoid ambiguity in the setting of requirements, it may be necessary for the purchaser to define precisely the intended meaning of passivation.
THE PICKLING CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS
Before use, the pickling solutions must satisfy the requirements in respect of their chemical composition and the presence of contaminants.
The products recommended by the EPCI CONTRACTOR must satisfy the Client (COMPANY) requirements and any additional requirements concerning safety of personnel and equipment and protection of the environment.
These are solutions to be used, e.g. :
- ESAB StainClean Pickling Gel
- Stainless Steel Pickling Gel Nikko Steel
ESAB StainClean Pickling Gel
StainClean pickling paste is used for cleaning and passivating of welding joints and the heat affected zone (HAZ) for welded stainless steel constructions. Pickling paste is applied with a paintbrush. After pickling and generous flushing with water (high pressure), the corrosion resistance of the weld site is restored.
StainClean has an extraordinary good adhesive capacity and can be applied on vertical surfaces and ceilings without any risk of running or drying.
Stainclean Green pickling paste is a pickling paste with an entirely new formula. The paste is virtually free from formation of toxic, nitric gases.
NOTE: All Stainclean products are toxic and corrosive
CHEMICAL CLEANING OF STAINLESS STEEL PIPES
Stainless steel pipes and other components are normally supplied pickled and passivated.
Welding if well inerted should not produce surface state which would require further pickling and passivation.
This operation shall be carried out as per the following steps:
- Degreasing is generally not necessary except if the quantity of grease is too important and cannot be removed by hand.
- Rinsing shall be carried out with clean water and hosepipe.
- Cold pickling (at ambient temperature)
- Rinsing shall be carried out with clean water and hosepipe.
- Passivation, If required, passivation shall be carried out as per ASTM A 967 in an oxidizing (nitric) medium containing less than 5 g/l total dissolved iron.
- Final Rinsing shall be carried out with clean water and hosepipe
- Blowing, drain all low points if any, and dry the network with compressed air to remove water traces.
- Oil flushing,
CHEMICAL CLEANING OF EXTERNAL SURFACE OF STAINLESS STEEL COMPONENTS
External surface of stainless steel piping or equipment in which have been polluted during fabrication shall be mechanically or chemically cleaned. Traces of contamination shall be removed using methods described below.
- Mechanical cleaning: Oxidation may be removed by mechanical means. The surface shall be polished with a grinder and a smooth transition to the unpolished base material surface shall be made. The final surface roughness, Ra, shall be less than 12.5 micrometres. (See Client Requirements/specifications).
- Pickling and passivation using liquids: Pickling and passivation shall be carried out in accordance with Client Requirements/specifications.
- Pickling and passivation using pastes: Pickling and passivation using pastes shall only be used on the outside of piping or equipment. Pastes shall be specifically produced for the purpose of oxidation removal and shall contain no halogens. Any residuals of such pastes shall be removed after cleaning by washing with copious quantities of fresh water. Such pastes shall be used in accordance with the recommendations of the paste supplier.
SAFETY : Staff protection
Elementary protections have to be taken by the people involved in the chemical cleaning operations.
They must wear some safety equipment such as gloves, boots, aprons, and goggles.
They must read MSDS prior working.
Safety procedure and equipments shall be established in case of splitting: on skin or in the eyes.
In any case, see a doctor.
QUALITY CONTROL: Pickling & Passivation Inspection
- During cleaning: If chemical cleaning is carried out, the cleaning solution shall be tested for inhibitor effectiveness prior to its introduction to the relevant system.
- Inspection after cleaning: Visual inspection shall be made at all accessible points to assess the degree of cleanliness achieved. Lube oil, seal oil and control oil systems shall be inspected as noted in API Std 614.
Inspections and Acceptance shall be carried out in the presence of a representative of the Client / OWNER.
Acceptance checks
Acceptance checks shall be based on Cleanliness tests, Passivity or decontamination tests and Inhibition effectiveness inspection.
These are mainly:
- Visual tests
- White rag tests
- Wood lamp test
- Water film test
- Ferricyanide test
- pH monitoring Test
Acceptance criteria:
- Visual examination: The surface must be totally free of corrosion products and foreign bodies.
- Wood lamp test: The test must not reveal the presence of fatty matter.
- White rag test: In the case of stainless steels alloys, the rag must remain clean.
- Water film test: Any discontinuity in the film caused by the presence of fatty matter shall be unacceptable.
- Ferricyanide test: No blue colouration should appear on the surface being examined within 15 seconds of application.
- Corrosion: The inhibition inspection is based on observation of the surface condition of a coupon placed inside the reactive medium. Measurements by weight may be used to supplement these observations.
- Steel wool pad: The inhibition inspection is based on immersing a pad of steel wool in the medium. Salting out of the pad on the surface of the solution indicates an inhibition fault.
PRESERVATION OF CLEANED SYSTEMS:
Generally, cleaned systems shall be blanked off by metal closures until required for commissioning.
ENVIRONMENTAL: Waste products
Pickling sludge is the waste product from pickling, and includes acidic rinse waters, iron chlorides, and metallic salts and waste acid. Spent pickle liquor is considered a hazardous waste by the EPA. Pickle sludge from steel processes is usually neutralized with lime and disposed of in a landfill. After neutralization the EPA no longer deems it a hazardous waste. The lime neutralization process raises the pH of the spent acid. The waste material is subject to a waste determination to ensure no characteristic or listed waste is present.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) is an agency of the U.S. federal government which was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The EPA was proposed by President Richard Nixon and began operation on December 2, 1970, after Nixon signed an executive order. The EPA has its headquarters in Washington, D.C., regional offices for each of the agency’s ten regions, and 27 laboratories. The agency conducts environmental assessment, research, and education.
TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE PRODUCTS
The treatment and/or disposal of waste products shall be the responsibility of the CONTRACTOR with all due respect for current regulations.
DOCUMENTATION:
- Pickling & Passivation Procedure
- Pickling & Passivation Reports
- MSDS
REFERENCES / READ MORE:
- http://digilib.its.ac.id/pengaruh-konsentrasi-inhibitor-quinoline-c9h7n-terhadap-laju-korosi-baja-ss-304-dalam-variasi-konsentrasi-larutan-pickling-hcl-3433.html. Diakses pada 20 Okt 2014.
- http://products.esab.com/Templates/T041.asp?id=123628. Diakses pada 20 Okt 2014.
- http://bethelwelindo.indonetwork.net/3453108/nikko-steel-stainclean.htm. Diakses pada 20 Okt 2014.
- http://www.derustit.com/products/wonder_gel.php . Diakses pada 20 Okt 2014.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickling_(metal). Diakses pada 20 Okt 2014.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agency. Diakses pada 20 Okt 2014.
- http://bethelwelindo.indonetwork.co.id/3453108/nikko-steel-stainclean.htm. Diakses pada 20 Okt 2014.
- http://www.ehedg.org/guidelines/doc17.pdf. Diakses pada 20 Okt 2014.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passivation_(chemistry). Diakses pada 20 Okt 2014.
- ASTM A380 / A380M – 13, Standard Practice for Cleaning, Descaling, and Passivation of Stainless Steel Parts, Equipment, and Systems
- ASTM A967 / A967M – 13, Standard Specification for Chemical Passivation Treatments for Stainless Steel Parts
- TOTAL General Specification: GS EP PVV 175 Cleaning of piping and vessels. GS EP COR 460, GS EP PVV 175.
