What is the corrosivity of H2O2 when injected into a process water?
In most cases, the corrosivity imparted a process water by adding H2O2 is due to dissolved oxygen which is a natural decomposition product of H2O2. Oxygen has known corrosive properties toward ferrous metals, with well documented pH, temperature, pressure and salinity effects. For dilute solutions of H2O2 (< 1%), Perrys Chemical Engineering Handbook indicates corrosion rates of < 0.02 in. per yr (< 0.5 mpy). In coupon tests involving oil field brine, corrosion rates on 1030 carbon steel were 6 mpy after 30 days exposure to a few hundred mg/L H2O2 Brine is known to be corrosive when oxygenated and the corrosion rate for most applications of H2O2 will be less. The study developed a model which related corrosivity to (soluble) iron content, pH and H2O2 dose. Iron level and pH were found to be far more significant than H2O2 dose, and when the iron levels were low, there was virtually no effect attributable to H2O2. Still, it is prudent to consider corrosivity when designing injection assem
