The Technology |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Iodine and minimising corrosion |
Corrosion is a major problem with oxidising sanitisers
which can cause expensive damage to plant equipment after a period of time.
Both iodine and chlorine cause various degrees of corrosion. However, the
corrosion effect of chlorine is dramatically more than iodine as delivered
in the Isan System for the following reasons:
- The fundamental measure of corrosion is the oxidation potential
of the atom. Chlorine has an oxidation potential of 4.9 whereas iodine has
an oxidation
potential of 4.2. Since this is a logarithmic reference, the reactivity
of chlorine is twice that of iodine;
- The atomic weight of chlorine is 35.5 as against iodine which is 127.
Therefore, for an equivalent weight of product there will be 3.6 times
(127/35.5) more
chlorine atoms than iodine atoms.
- When you combine these two facts you end up with a theoretical increased
corrosion effect of chlorine over iodine of more than seven times;
- the dosages of iodine as dispensed by the Isan System, necessary to be
as effective or more effective than chlorine are between five to ten
time less than chlorine.
So not only is the iodine significantly less corrosive but the dosages
present are significantly less;
- Another significant corrosion generator in chlorine based systems is
the presence of chlorine by-products nearly all of which are highly
corrosive in their own
right. These by-products are not removed from the wash water and
build up to very high levels compounding the corrosion effect. In dramatic
contrast the
Isan System constantly removes the iodine by-products from the
wash water
thereby removing any corrosion effect that they might have had;
- Finally, the differences in gaseous formation is significant. At
room temperature chlorine is a gas but iodine is a solid. In addition,, particularly
due to the higher dosages and effect of pH and temperature, there will always
be substantially more chlorine gas produced than iodine gas. This chlorine
gas, also highly corrosive, permeates throughout operators plants affecting
all equipment.
For all of these reasons the iodine as used in the Isan system is only slightly
corrosive in comparison to chlorine sanitizers. The Isan System once installed
will result in significantly longer equipment life leading to substantial
capital equipment cost savings.
|
 |