The list of chemicals under “Chemical Corrosion Resistance of Lead” in the December number of CORROSION was probably intended as a general introductory guide for prospective users of lead equipment. Without doubt the list is useful in helping to avoid the more obvious misapplications of lead in the design of chemical equipment. There is one serious omission, however, that the reader should know about. This concerns the general caution required in employing lead or lead alloy equipment of any kind in the food and beverage industries.
For example, the list contains the following information about ethyl alcohol: “Alcohol, ethyl — no effect on lead.” From this statement, and in the absence of further detail, one might assume that grain alcohol can be distilled without special consideration of such factors as the toxicity o. ad-corrosion products. From the standpoint of life of lead equipment in contact with ethyl alcohol there can...
