Black liquor corrosivity is shown to depend on the interaction of the chemical species present. Specifically, an interaction between oxygen and 1,2-dihydroxybenzene compounds (catechols) in alkaline sulfide solutions leads to a distinct increase in the severity of the attack. This increased corrosivity is explained in terms of the oxidation of catechol leading to increased open circuit potentials for steel. The importance of the ratio of sulfide concentration to hydroxyl concentration in the initiation of pitting is stressed. The possible role of catechol in stabilizing metastable pits is also discussed.

Subject
Pits, Liquor, Alkaline solutions, Steel electrodes, Platinum, Black liquors, Acidity, Steel, Pitting, Sulfides, Polarization, Electrodes, Electrode potential
Keywords:
black liquor, pulp and paper industry, catechol, pitting corrosion, quantification of pitting, alkaline sulfide solutions
© 1995 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1995
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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