Abstract
A new method was developed utilizing ion liquid chromatography (ILC) to analyze chelant boiler cleaning solutions. First efforts at analyzing Fe-Cu-(NH4)4 EDTA solutions encountered a separation problem. The iron and copper chelates were not separated enough to allow quantitative analysis of each. The problem was solved by changing the eluent composition.
Linearity of chromatograph peak area versus concentration plots for each component was demonstrated and reproducibility confirmed. Commercial AA standards were used to prepare calibration solutions, and analytical data was confirmed by duplicate analyses of samples using separate analytical methods.
The newly developed analytical method was first used in a mobile laboratory to analyze cleaning solutions during the cleaning of boiler number two and its economizer at Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Laramie River Station near Wheatland, Wyoming. During the job, ILC analytical results were checked by titration and by spectrophotometric methods. Data from the different methods were found to be in close agreement.
A major benefit of ILC for during the job boiler cleaning solution analyses is that three analytical tests are replaced by one procedure. This allows a single chemist or technician to better be able to keep up with frequent sampling schedules. Not being so hard pressed, he is better able to do careful work and produce accurate results.
