The scale deposits, corrosion deposits, formation materials, reaction products, catalyst material, and refractory materials, accumulate in various parts of the equipment in the Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU). The X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) technique was used to identify deposits in SRUs. The accumulation of these materials cause major problems and cause plants to shut down. It has been observed that the samples collected from the condensers are sulfates (ammonium, iron, sodium iron) and corrosion products. The presence of ammonium sulfate and ammonium iron sulfate indicates the liberation of ammonia from the chemical used in boiler feed water. The deposits accumulated in the converter are titanium and aluminum oxide, which indicates the leakage of a catalyst. Sulfur and carbon are also detected from the SRU line. The analytical approach and methods used in the advanced material’s characterization of the unwanted scale deposits formed in the SRU will be discussed in this paper.

Subject
X-ray diffraction, Chemical compounds, Materials, Tubes, Sulfates, Iron, Mixtures, Ammonium, Condensers, Scale formation, Powders, Deposit corrosion, Samples
Keywords:
Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU), corrosion products, boiler feed water, XRD
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2012
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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