SULFITE DOES NOT REACT AS EXPECTED WITH OXYGEN IN SUGAR MILL BOILER SYSTEMS

FOR MANY YEARS it has been accepted that sulfite reacts with oxygen to protect sugar mill boilers from oxygen related corrosion. The relatively low cost of using sulfite for this purpose has been used as an argument for some factories to either not maintain or not install mechanical deaerators. This study has now demonstrated that sulfite does not react predictably with oxygen in sugar mill feedwater systems where process condensate is used as make up. The inhibitor of the reaction remains elusive, but potential candidates have been discussed as is the consequence of this finding.