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13
The Fundamentals of Oxygen Scavengers
Boiler feedwater can be chemically deaerated using a specific type of chemical known as an oxygen
scavenger. These chemicals will combine with the dissolved oxygen in the boiler feedwater. Oxygen
scavengers are normally fed to the pre‐boiler section like the feedwater storage tank, feedwater line or
storage section of the deaerator. Outlined below are the commonly used boiler feedwater oxygen
scavengers.
I. SULFITES
Sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) and sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) are inorganic reducing agents,
which will react with dissolved oxygen in alkaline water. The dosage for sodium sulfite is 7.88
ppm per ppm of dissolved oxygen. The reaction is as follows:
2 Na2 SO3 + O2 2 Na2 SO4
Sodium sulfate is the by‐product, which can be found in the boiler water. The reaction is pH
dependent requiring the feedwater to be above 7.0. The reaction rate is normally very slow. It
takes 20‐30 minutes for sodium sulfite to combine with dissolved oxygen. However, the
reaction can be catalyzed with metal ions like cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe).
Sodium metabisulfite is the most economical form of sulfite. However, the product is acidic and
may require a supplemental feed of caustic soda to achieve oxygen scavenging.
II. HYDRAZINE
Hydrazine is a powerful reducing agent that reacts with dissolved oxygen. It is an inorganic
compound containing nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H). Hydrazine will scavenge oxygen in boiler
feedwater according to the following reaction:
N2 H2 + O2 N2 + 2 H2O
Gaseous nitrogen and water are the by‐products of the hydrazine reaction with oxygen.
Because hydrazine or its reaction by‐products do not add dissolved solids to the boiler water, it
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Document No. 13
is widely used in high‐pressure steam boilers where solids are limited. The reaction rate of
hydrazine with oxygen is slow at room temperature. At temperatures typically found in
pressurized deaerators (220F), the reaction rate is satisfactory for oxygen scavenging. The
reaction rate of hydrazine can be increased using various organic or inorganic catalysts. Cobalt
salts and hydroquinone are used to catalyze hydrazine. In addition, reacting with dissolved
oxygen, hydrazine can remove oxygen from metal oxides. Red iron oxide (rust) can be reduced
to black iron oxide (magnetite) according to the following reaction:
12 Fe3 O (OH) + N2 H4 4 Fe3 O4 + 8 H2O + N2
The reaction ratio of hydrazine to dissolved oxygen is 1:1. Commercial hydrazine is available as
a 35% solution in water. Hydrazine is classified as a carcinogen and requires special handling.
III. N, N ‐ DIETHYLHYDROXYLAMINE
Diethylhydroxylamine or DEHA is an organic oxygen scavenger with a similar oxygen removal
rate as sodium sulfite or hydrazine in boiler feedwater. Like hydrazine, DEHA is best used in
mechanically deaerated boiler feedwater. The chemical structure for DEHA is as follow:
H3C ‐ H2 C
N ‐ O ‐ H
H3C ‐ H2 C
The chemical reaction of DEHA with dissolved oxygen is as follows:
4 (CH3CH2)2 NOH + 9 O2 8 CH3 COOH + 2 N2 + 6 H2O
The by‐product of the reaction of DEHA with oxygen are acetic acid (CH3 COOH), nitrogen (N)
and water (H2O). The reaction ratio is 1.24 ppm DEHA to each ppm of oxygen. In addition,
DEHA will react with ferric oxide (rust) to form magnetite.
IV. HYDROQUINONE
Hydroquinone was initially used as a catalyst for hydrazine. It is currently used by itself as an
organic oxygen scavenger. The reaction with oxygen is less influenced by temperature than
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Document No. 13
other oxygen scavengers and is very rapid at room temperature. The reaction by‐products of
hydroquinone with oxygen are acetic acid, carbon dioxide and water. Hydroquinone is relatively
stable to high temperature and pressure conditions and will steam distill throughout the boiler
system. The dosage for hydroquinone is 2 ppm per 1 ppm of dissolved oxygen. The optimum
pH range is 8 to 10. Hydroquinone is a strong reducing agent and will reduce iron and copper
oxides throughout the boiler system.
V. ERYTHORBIC ACID
Erythorbic acid is an isomer of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). It traditionally has been used as an
antioxidant in food. Since 1980, erythorbic acid has been used as an oxygen scavenger in boiler
feedwater. The dosage is 10.6 ppm of erythorbic acid for each ppm of dissolved oxygen. The
optimum pH range is 8 to 10. The reaction rate is rapid at boiler feedwater temperatures, but
can be increased with metal catalysts such as copper, nickel or iron. In low‐pressure boilers,
erythorbic acid will break down to lactic acid, glycolic acid and hydroxybutyric acid. In high‐
pressure boilers, it degrades to carbon dioxide and water.
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