Water Technologies & Solutions
case study
grass root Butadiene Unit passivation with
Butaclean* 4606
background
Butadiene extractive distillation units are prone to
polymer fouling. To minimize the fouling and to attain
multiple years runlength, passivation should be done
prior to the plant start up. In case of a grass root
plant, in most cases the whole system is degreased,
pickled and passivation.
During the construction phase, different kinds of
chemicals are used and dust enters the system.
Besides that, the metal surface is exposed to air and
becomes rusty which acts as a catalyst for
polymerization. Prior to the unit start up, all present
“contaminants” should be removed, so called
degreasing followed by a (acid) pickling to remove the
rusty layer with finally a passivation step.
new challenge
A new European butadiene plant was built in 2014 and
prior to start up, the customer wanted to passivate the
whole unit (sphere, feed and return lines, extractive
distillation and purification). Generally passivation
takes place with a Sodium Nitrite solution resulting in
a significant amount of highly contaminated toxic
waste and difficult to process in a waste water plant.
Because of the big volumes involved and the
difficulties with handling the waste water, SUEZ
proposed to passivate the plant with the non-toxic
technology. By applying this new technology, a low
nitrogen free and environmental friendly technology
chemical, the contaminated solvent processing in the
waste water unit was a key priority without
jeopardizing the passivation performance.
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CS1513EN.docx Apr-15
passivation
For passivation, the Butaclean 4606 should be used in
combination with Petroflo* 21Y21 according to the
following procedure:
• After decreasing and pickling the system was
kept under nitrogen (max 40 ppm O and
2
accordingly filled with boiler water containing 1%
Butaclean 4606.
• The passivation solution should be circulated and
heated with steam injection up to >80 °C (max 90
°C).
• Once starting the water circulation, the pH should
be measured with adding Petroflo 21Y21 to
elevate the pH to > 9 (max 9.5).
• Coupons to be installed in the buffer tank in order
to follow up the passivation layer build up.
• Every 2 hours the residual Butaclean 4606 and pH
should be measured and corrective actions
should be taken, maintaining the required amount
of passivator (> 5000 ppm) and minimum the pH
(>9).
• Add Butaclean 4606 and Petroflo 21Y21 based on
the analysis.
• Monitor the water circulation temperature
continuously (>80 °C) and check the coupons
passivation layer every 2 hours.
• Once the passivation reaction started, a
significant drop from the residual Butaclean 4606
takes place as well as a pH reduction will be
observed.
• After 20 -24 hours, the water should be drain to Copper Sulphate Plating
the waste water plant (or basin in case of very
high volumes).
• Dry and inert the system / column with N .
2

• Determine the effectiveness from the applied

passivation with CuSO plating test.
4

monitoring
Every 2 hours, pH, temperature, and residuals were
monitored to confirm the good efficiency of the
procedure.

pH & Temperature
from left to right

1) CuSO - fresh coupon not passivated

4

2) New Coupon
3) CuSO from a passivated coupon
4

conclusions
The customer is extremely satisfied with the current
plant performance indicating the quality of the
passivation layer is outstanding, and the partnership
between SUEZ & the maintenance / cleaning company
we worked with.

residuals & temperature

EHS
EHS was a key priority for the customer and during
the 8 weeks on-site activities a 100 % compliance
score was achieved.

The unit is actually running with optimal conditions,

without any indication of polymer not popcorn
formation for more than 8 months.

Page 2 CS1513EN.docx