WATER/13s

ny grams of Mg(NO 3)i dissolved/litre gives 90 ppm hardness?

4 J-Iowma
· M l.wt.ofMg(N03)i=148) (Ans.0.133gm)
( : d water sample containing FeSO4 shows a hardr,ess of 320 ppm. How many grams
5, AF~ is present per litre? (Mol. wt. of FeSC\ = 152) (Ans. 0.486)
/~ t1ard water s~mple containing 22.2 mg/L CaCii has a hardness of 20 ppm. Find out
the chemical eqmvalent of CaC12. (Ans. 55.5)
7. A sample of water on analysis was found to contain the following impurities expressed
inmg/L:
Impurity Ca(HCO3)i Mg(HCO3)i CaS04 MgS04
Quantity 8 10 12 14
Mol. wt. 162 146 136 120
Calculate the temporary, permanent and total hardness of water in mg/L.
(Ans. 11.79, 20.49, 32.28)
8. Asample of water is found to contain the following in ppm: Ca(HCO )i =16; Mg(HCO:J
= 20; Ca504 = 10; MgSO 4 = 18.
3 2

Calculate the temporary and permanent hardness in degree Clarke.

(Ans.= 1.65°Cl, 1.57°Cl)
Art.10. SOFTENING OF HARD WATER
The processof removal oflzardness producing salts from water is called "softening of hard water". Since
the hard water is unfit for industrial as well as domestic use, the removal of hardness from it is very
important. There are two types of water softening processes i.e.,
(1) External Treatment of water softening
(ir) Internal Treatment of water softening
(1) External Treatment of Water Softening: In external treatment, prior to its entry into a boiler,
hard water is subjected to softening process. External treatment helps in the prevention of boiler
problems in advance. It includes lime-soda, zeolite or ion-exchange processes. It is carried out in
high-pressure boilers.
. (i1) Internal Treatment of Water Softening: The water softened by external treatment process
15
fed to a boiler. But yet some salts may be present in it. To remove the salts left by external
treatment, the boiler feed water is treated inside the boiler itself, by addition of chemicals. This is
called internal treahnent of w ater softening. It is a corrective process and is used to remove only
!hose salts, which are not removed by the external treatment. It includes, colloidal, carbonate,
calgon or phosphate conditioning. It is carried out in low-pressure boilers.

IWATER SOFTENING I
I
+
E' >.,ernal Treatment
t
Internal Treatment

r
L1rne-soda t
Zeolite
i t t
Process Ion-exchange Colloid al Carbonate Calgon Phosphate
process process cond itioning conditionin g cond ition ing conditioning
 146\.l_A~P~PL~l~ED~C~H~E~M~l~ST~R~Ye,__ _ _ ========---
SOLVED EXAMPLES ON ZEOLITE PRocess

lution contm'ni11g 10
~:f
Example 1: A zeo/ite soO,ftglle11~;
5 completely exhausted and then regenerated bi
NaCl Find ou.t the number of litres of Wate/fiassing 150 I
I i . l • . 400 ppm. zat can be lt,.esoJ,,
so H d zess ofwater snmp c rs softe11 •vqq
soften:'·. ar, r 150 L of NaCl solution= 150 L x 100 g/L = 15000 gm of Nae: e4~t~
Solution. 15000 x 100 l
58.5 x 2 g of Caco3 eq.
= 12886.598 g of CaCO eq.
Now . 1L t 3
400ppmor mg of hardness is present m wa er
12886598
lZB86598 mg of hardness is present in =
400
= 32216.5 L
Hence, 32216.5 L of hard water can be softened by the softener. [Ans.]
Example 2: A zeolite got 98% exhausted 011 passing 8000 L of Izard wpter through .t Th
l 60 L of 10% NaCl for regeneration. What is the hardness of water sample? 1· e 50ftenerrel/Uin
Solution: 10% NaCl= 10 gm of NaCJ/100 ml of solution 15

= 100 gm of NaCI/L of solution

Now 8000 L of Hard water = 160 L of 100 g/L NaCl solution
= 16000 g of NaCl
100
= 16000x---g eq ofCaco
58.2 x2 · 3
= 13675.214 g eq. of CaCO
3
IL of hard water= 13675.214/8000 g eq. of CaCQ
lLofhard water= 1.709gofCaC0 eq. 3
3
= 1709 mg of CaCO3 eq.
Hence Hardness of water = 1709 mg/L = 1709 ppm. [Ans.]

PROBLEMS FOR PRACTICE ON ZEOLITE PROCESS

1. A zeolite softener got exhausted on treating 18,000 L of hard water. It requires400Lof
NaCl solution of strength 5g NaCI/L of solution to regenerate. Find out the hardness of
water in ppm. (Ans.95ppm)
2. After softening 14000 L of hard water a softener stops giving soft water. If it requires2))
L of 6% (w /v) NaCl solution for regeneration. What is the hardness of watermg/L?
(Ans. 916mg/L)
11.3 Ion-Exchange or Deionization or Demineralisation Process
This process helps m the complete removal of all types of 10ns (Ca -, g , , 4
. . +" M +2 CJ- SO -2 etc.) from the

D
· al·1Sa ti' on of water is
emmer · d out by usmg
· carne · 10n-exc
· h ange resins · Ion-exchange res_,1
Functir/lJII
· I bl
are mso u e, cross- link ·
ed, long chain polymers, that possess mICropor ous structure.
 WATER/147
- - .- ttache .
- d to polymeric side chains are responsible for the exchfllige of ions. The re are two
groups a . -exchange res ms:
f1on · C t· I ·
types1o • Exchange resins: a ion exc rnnge resu1s con to in groups like (- COOH, or - SO H).
( 1Catl:erally styrene d~vinyl benzene copolymers Which on carboxy lation or sulphom1iion
rheseareg
can exc th -i'rH' ionsw1th rn tions (such asCa 12, Mg•·2 Fe+2 At•J et ) fh d t
, hange e · • , c. o ar wa er.

~ -~ 11,- ~ I- CH, ~ - CH, -~

COOH
-I
$
1--LC-Ct I-CH,
I-
COO H $
11 C-c1--1-c1I
2 1 2

,~,c ~ -c11,~

H ooc coo 1-1 -· +1c-c1-tr·

Fig. 5: Cation Exchange Resin (Carboxyla~ ~

The cation exchange resins can be represented by a general formula RH+, where R = resin.
(ii) Anion Exchange resins: Anion exchange resins contain groups like (-NH , -NHM
-NMe etc.). These are also styrene diviny\ benzene copolymers which on treatment 2 with dil0
N,m/ solution, become
present in hard water. capa'1e to exch=ge lhei, OH· ions with anions (such a, Cl·, SO;' et,.)

-F-ig-.-6-: -A-n-io
- n-::E:-x-c·:--
h-an_g_e~ R:-
es:;i:- --
n-;(-;:;
H:yd;::
,oxide Form).

The anion exchange,esinscan be <ep,csente dbYa gene,·al formula ROH·, where . .R = resin.
d
.Process: An ion exchan ge softener cons ists k Cation. exchnnee
. o f two t ands. {' t ,,a l.ercsm ts place
to pass throughm
f'trst tank and anion exc hange resin
. m
. secon d tank
• · The har water is H S I ' l
I

I
I

L
 148 APPLIED CHEMISTRY . +•

resin which exchanges its H tons for Ca +2

tank containing cation exchange and ~g+i io

water. 2RH+ + ca+2 nca

''2
+2 + m• lls oh_
·~i
2Rfi+ + Mg+2 ~Mg•2 + m+
2
2 cJ- and 50-2) associated with ca+ and Mg+2 ions
Th ea nions (CO; ' 4 . th h . coinbin
I H 50 Thus after passing roug cation exchanger . e With Ii
form HFOy HC ~;. 2 4. eslJl Water"- \~
fro ca•2and Mg ions. "'-'tOJii
m th' water still containing anions (C03-2, CI-, S04-2 etc.) in the fo es\
Now ts d nk ta· · · h rin of J.J
J..J SO is passed through the s_econ ta te con m:g amdonf exoc a~ge resin. liere th.42C:O:i, ~"'
• -i • _2 ci- SO -2 present m the wa r are exc ange or H- IOns of th e alli '-1 ot
as C03 , or 4 e resin °llssii
ROH- + CI- RCI- + OH- . en

2ROH- + SO4- 2 RiSO4-2+ 20H-

2ROH- + C03-2 RiC03-2 + 20H-
The water softened b! ion exch~nge p~~ess is comple~ly free from all
producing cations and amons. That IS why 1t 1s known as deionized or dem. ty~ of hardness
as good as distilled wat~r. H+ io_ns released from cation exchanger resin Water.Jtk
from anion exchange resm combme to form water. 10ns rel~

H• + OH- --+ 1½0

Hard-+
water

t · exchange
sin

t
t +
Soft water

dilHCI

Fig. 7: Ion-Exchange Softener

Regeneration
When the capacities of cation and anion exchange resins to exchange H+ and oH- ions respectivelr
is lost and they stop functioning, they are said to be exhausted at this stage. da
. .
The exhausted cation exchange resin is regenerated by passing a solution° 1 ·f d'l HClor
Hi5()4.
 WATER/151
~ L501 E R PROBLEMS. CAUSED BY HARD WATER
__....wa ter creates following
1'· 13, fhard . problems in boilers:
oie ~seo d Sludge Formation
scaJeal\ t
J. . Embrittlemen
(ausbC
2- Corrosion
130Uer .
3. . and Foammg
4 pnnung ..
S.· [)efOSI"tion ofS1hca

le and Sludge Formation

3,1 sea . . ..
I ,team"
try used fo, the generation of electncdy. Steam mtum is pwduced mboile,s.
iJ,duh,ard' wale< is used fo, p<otluction steam, concenrration of the dissolved salts inueases
~,yhell ti 0 f of t Wh
I vely due lo the evapora on. . wa °'· en thefr mncentrntion <eaches beyond saturation
~ ' di,.olved salts strut p,eo pUating out and get settled on the inne, walls of the boi!ec
niesepreci
~ in •pitates result into two types of formations:
1.S!udge
, Scales

'°""•
;. Sludge, A ,oft and sUmy p,eripHni, fenned witl,in o boile, is lmoum as sludge. It is focmed
the comparatively colder portions of the boiler and get collected at those places where the flow
rate JS
,t • low such as pipe connection, plug opening, gauge-glass connection, bend etc. The salts that
~grea ler solubilities in hot than cold water. are the cause of sludge fom1ation e.g. CaC½, MgC½..
MgS(\, MgC03 etc.
Removal of Sludges

As sludge is a loose, soft and slimy precipitate it can be removed easily by scrapping off with a
brush.

Sludge suspended in water

Boiler wall

Heat

Fig. 8: Sludge Formation .

 152 APPLIED CHEMISTRY
f Sludge fonnation
Disadvantages o . y of boilers.
1 Decreased effic1enc d tor of heat, so it tends to waste a porti
. . poor con uc f b il on of h
As sludge is a f II . the efficiency o o er. eat
resulting into_a a 111 SIJ.PPlieq
2 Choking of pipes. ter circulation as it settles down in th '
. I s down wa . f e are
Sludge _s ow o enings, bends etc. An excessive ormation of sluct as such
connections, plug P ge lllay as p·
choking of pipes. . even
. f Sludge Fonnatton
Prevenhon ° . an be prevented by the use of soft boiler. feed Water.
1 Sludge formation c
· f ation can be kept under check by carrying out fre
2. Sludge orm · quent "bl
.
operatiOilS •" . .. o,...
.. do
ration is a cleanmg process that mvolves removal of a portio ,, lvn
A blow-dow11 ope n O; conce
and replacing it by fresh water. ntratedu,at
2. Sca Ie.. A 11ard, stickly precipilate formed on thef inner walls of the boiler is k nown as er
difficult to remove even with the he1po 11arnmer and chisel and are . a scaJe 1'1.
are very , I f ti C CO C mam cau . •ney
problems. Salts responsible fo r sea e orma on are a 3, aSO4 , Mg(OB)i, Mgc seo_fbotler
Scales are formed due to: ½, S102 ek.
(1) Decomposition of Ca(HCOJ 2

Ca(HCO3)2 ~CaCO3 .J, +H 2 O+CO 2 t

Scale

CaCO3 is !:he main cause of scale formation in low-pressure boilers. In high- res
CaC03 does not form scales because it decompose to give Ca(OH)i. P sure boilers

Layer of scale
deposited on inner
wall of boiler - ~•
'.11r t - - - Scales suspended
in water

· - - - Boiler wall

Fig. 9: Scale Formation.

CaCO 3 + H 2 O Ca(OHh + CO 2 t
Soluble in wa ter of
(11· ·) D th · crease
ecomposition of CaSO4: The solubility of CaSO in water decreases wi Ill ter.
temperature. It is soluble in cold water and almost comple~ely insoluble in super-heated wa
 WATER/lsi

~mperature the ionization of CaSO 4increases. At very high tempera tu re ioni.7,alion

1 Ul high so that ionic product of CaSO4 becomes higher than its solubility product i.e.
v,,,·th iftcrease
tSvery · · 'tati fC SO ·
ofc;aSO, > K that result mto precipi on° a 4, which deposits as hard, sticky sca les on
..,eiJloer
6f
~~produ;alls the boiler· C_aS04 scales are so ha rd and sticky that it is very difficult to remove
. h the help of chisel and hammer.
u• venw1t
t!te"'.~ Hydrolysis of Magnesium Salts: At the operating temperatures of boilers the dissolved
of ma gnesium get hydrolysed to form Mg(OH)i precipitate, that forms a soft ,scale .
salts(111)
MgC\2 + 2H20 --+ Mg(OHh ..l. + 2HC1 t
Scale

(iv) Presence of Silica (Si02): Si02 prese~t even in trace amount deposit as CaSiOJ and/ or
gS1·o3scale. These scales
s·o?.re. very
b 'l
hard and sticky and extremely difficult to remove. Sand filter is
. 0 rtantsource of i 2 m 01 er water.
I;{
anlll1P
Removal of Scales
The scales deposited on the inner walls of boilers can be removed by following methods:
(a) If the scales are loosely adhering, they can be removed by a scraper, wire brush or a piece of
wood.

(b) If the scales are brittle, they can be removed by thermal shocks i.e. by heating the boiler and
then cooling it suddenly with cold water.
(c) If the scales are adheren t and hard, they can be removed by dissolving them in suitable
chemicals. For example scales due to CaCO3 can be dissolved in 5-10% HCl and that of
CaS04 by using ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA).
(d) By frequent blow-down operations if the scales are quite loose and non-adhering.
Disadvantages of Scale formation
(1) Wastage of Fuel: As scales are poor conductors of heat they tend to waste a portion of heat
supplied to boilers. Therefore in order to maintain a steady supply of steam, boilers are
heated to more than required temperatures.
(i1) Decrease in efficiency: Valves and condensers of boilers get partially chocked due to the
deposition of scales in them. This decreases their efficiency.
(iii) Reduced boiler safety: To maintain a steady supply of steam, an over-heating of boilers is
carried out due to the deposition of scales on their inner walls. This over-heating causes a
distortion of the boiler material. At high temperatures iron reacts rapidly with water to
form Fe3O 4 and H 2. This results into the thinning of boiler material.

3Fe + 4H 2O Fe 3O 4 + 4H 2 1'
This makes boiler material softer and weaker. Such a boiler is unsafe to bear the pressure
of the steam especially in high pressure boilers.
(iv) When thick scales crack due to uneven expansion, the water sud~enly com~ in ulcontact ;1
over-heated portions of boiler an d a tremend ous amount
. of steam
. lS.dformed sun taneous
th boiler y.
that may
This results in a sudden development of a high pressure ms1 e c '
sometimes result into its explosion.
 APPLIED CHEMISTRY

. f Scale Formation . .
Prevention° nted by subjecting the boiler feed water to
ti On can be preve Vario
Scale forma types of treatment processes. Us ttei\
There are two . d. . ttrieh
processes.E ternal treatmen t of water softening (d1Scusse m section10.1) ••!
()1
x t f water softening (discussed in section 10.2)
(11.) Internal treatmen o
Table 9: Differences between Sludge and Scale

Sludge Scale
1. A sludge is a loose, soft and slimy precipitate. 1. A scale is a hard and Stick d
2. It is a non-sticky deposit that can be removed 2. It is a firmly adhering dep~it eposit.
easily. to remove. and verydiff'
3. Formed by salts such as MgC03' MgCl2, 3. lt\tlt
Formed by salts such a C
MgS04, CaCli etc. Mg(OH)i, Si02etc. s aco3, Caso
4. Sludge is formed at comparatively colder 4. Scales are formed at com a . 1'
portions of the boiler. portions of the boiler. p rative(y hotter
5. They decreases the efficiency of the boiler but 5. They also decrease the effic·
are comparatively less dangerous. 1ency of th
but are very dangerous, someti e boiler
to explosions also. mes can lead
6. It can be removed easily with the help of blow- 6. They are very difficult to rem
down operation. . I teeh ruques
spec1a . such as theove and requ1re
.
I
chemical treatment for removr;a shock and

13.2 Caustic Embrittlement

It is a form of boiler corrosion which is caused by the use of highly alkaline water in boil Du .
er. wnng
softening of water by lime-soda process a small amount of Nc1iCO3 is usually left in softened
In high pressure boilers this Na 2CO3 decomposes to give NaOH and CO . ater.
2
Na 2CO 3 + H 2O High pressure 2NaOH + CO i
2
The presence of NaOH in boiler water makes it highly alkaline or caustic. This water, containing
NaOH enters into the minute hair-line cracks, rivets, bends and joints. Water evaporates and the
concentration of NaOH at these points keeps on increasing with time. NaOH (caustic soda) attack
the iron of boiler at these points and dissolves it as sodium-ferroate [Na Fe0 ]. The sodium
ferroate decomposes a 2 2

Fe+NaOH--+ Na 2Fe02
Sodium ferroate

3Na 2Fe02 +4H 2O--+ Fe2O3 +6NaOH+H 2 i

short distance away from its place of formation to give Fe O and NaOH.
2 3
NaOH so generated further reacts with Fe of boiler to form NaiFe02, that final!~ decomcpcsesstic
to form NaOH and Fe2O3. In this way the corrosion of boiler continues, ti·11 1.ts failure · au
embrittlement can be expressed in the form of a concentration cell as follows:

I
Iron at rivets,+ Concentrated NaOHIIDilute NaOH1-1ron at plane
bends, joints etc. solution solution surfaces
 ---- --------
d d by cone. NaOH behaves as d .
WATER
. .
ms
irondedsurroun
by di! ·eNaOH b e h aves. as cabo
1 d e. ano e and start dissolving, while the iron
~rroun . of Caustic Embnttlement
' ventton .
rre,) By us ing NalP0 .
4 as softer.mg agent instead of N CO
. . a2 3·
( dding lignin or tenrun to boiler water that block h . .
(ii) Bthe
y a.inh·1tra tion of NaOH inside them . t e hatt-line cracks, thereby preventing
B, adding Na:z-504 to boiler water, that acts the sam . .
(iii) ) e way as hgnu1 or tarmin.
3 Boiler Corrosion
13, . ,fL ·1 ·
15 decay or destn.ict1011 01 <'0 1 er nrntennl due to the chem · .
5p011tauem
011 . ca 11edb 01·1er corrosion.
n.ronment is · icn1ore 1ectrocl1en11c11l reaction with its
It leads to:
, Shortening of boiler life.
, Leakages of joints and rivets.
, Increased cost of repair and maintenance.
Following are the causes of boiler corrosion:
[l] Dissolved Oxygen
(2] Dissolved Carbondioxide
[3] Mineral Acids.

[1] Dissolved Oxygen: Dissolved oxygen is the most common factor of boiler corrosions. Water
usually contain about 8 ppm of dissolved oxygen at room temperature. At the high operating
temperahues within the boiler, the dissolved oxygen gets free and attacks the boill:!r iron to form
ferric oxide (rust)

4Fe + 2H 20 + 0 2 -4Fe(OH ) ,l,

2
4Fe(OH)i ,l, +0 2 - 2 1 Fe 20 3 .2H 0 ,l, l
L 2
Ru st . J
Removal of Dissolved Oxygen
Oxygen dissolved in water can be removed by following two ways:
(a) By Chemical Methods: Chemical substances like Na S0 , Na S and N H are added to
2 3 2
boiler water to drive away dissolved oxygen from it. 2 4

2Na 2S0 3 + 0 2 - 2Na 2S0 4

Na 2S + 20 2 - Na 2S04
N2H 4 + 0 2 N 2 + 2H 20

(b) By Mechanical de-aeration: Dissolved oxygen Ill . wha terl cdanf be

on1driven outconnected
sides c1nd mechanically
to a
by spraying wate r .m a pe r fora te d p Ia te · f,.tted tower, ea e r "
vacuum p u m p.
 rower -To vacuum
0 pump
0 r.-i1
0
0

0 r.-i1 0

0
Steam
0
r;--.1 0
jacket
0
0
0
r;--.1
0

r;--.1
Perforated
0
plates

'
De-aerated water

Fig. 10: Mechanical de-aeration of Water.

..
f2J Dissolve . CO2 dissolves in water to form carbonic acid (H2CO311 that
d Car bon dioxide:
slowly corrodes the boiler matena1.

CO 2 +H 2O~H 2 CO 3
Fe+ H 2 CO 3 FeCO 3 + H 2 t
Corrosion
Product

If boiler water contains bicarbonates such as Ca(HCO3)z and Mg(HCO )z these also decompose
3
on boiling to produce CO2.

Ca(HCO 3 ) 2 CaCO 3 -i +CO 2 +H 2 O

Mg(HCO 3 ) 2 Mg(OH)z -i +CO 2
The CO2 so produced gets dissolved in boiler water to form carbonic acid.
Removal of CO2
(a) By adding ammonia: A calculated amount of NH is added to boiler water, when it reacts
3
with CO2 to form ammonium carbonate.

2NH 40H+CO 2 ~(NH 4 )zCO 3 +H 2O

Thus CO2 is removed as (NH4) 2 CO from boiler water.
3
(b) By mechanical de-aeration alongwith oxygen.
f31 Mi nera I Acids:
· Magnesium
. • bo'Ier water,
salts such as MgCl and MgSO if present m 1
hydrolyse to produce free mineral acids 2 4

I
 WATER/is7

MgC1 2 + 2H 2 0 - Mg(0H)
2 +2HC1
MgS0 4 +2H20 - Mg(0H) +
. .th. f 2 H2S04
\'berated
I aods react w1 uon o the boiler in ch . r
the~e he mineral acids thus produced react with ir am- ik~ reaction to produce more and
ore acid. T on of boiler and hence corrode it.
tl1 Fe+H2S04 FeS04+H2 't
FeSO 4 + 2H 20 Fe(0H) ,1,
2 +H2S04
Sin1ilarly
Fe+ 2HCl FeCl2 + H2 't
FeCl2 + 2H20 Fe(0H2) ,1, +2HO
Thus tile presence of a small amount of magnesium salts and hence . .
. of boiler
corrosion . iron to. large extent.
. mineral acids cause
Neutralization of Mmeral Acids
Mineral acids present in boiler water can be neutralized by adding a calculated amount of
alkali to it.

13.4 Priming and Foaming

Priming
Due to extremely rapid boiling of water in a boiler very small droplets of tile liquid water are also
carried alongwith the steam . This phenomenon of "fon11ation of steam associated with liquid water
droplets is known as priming" . The steam associated with liquid water droplets is also known as
wet-steam.
Following are the causes of priming:
• Extremely high speed of steam formation.
• Very high level ofliquid water in boil<!r.
• Presence of suspended and dissolved impurities in water.
• Sudden boiling.
• Faulty design of boiler.
Priming can be prevented by:
• Controlling the speed of steam formation.
• Keeping the water level lower. .
• Proper softening and filtration of boiler feed water to keep tile suspended and dissolved
impurities at minimum possible level.
• Avoiding sudden and abrupt boiling.
• Proper design of boilers.
• Frequent blowing off operation to remove scales and sludges.

Foaming . b bbl s orfoa111 it the s11rface of water in boilers" is

"The Pl1e11ome11011 of for111ntio11 of smnll pers1ste1_1t 11 e .
known as foaming. Foaming does not break easily . . d lk res in the boiler feed water.
t\ resence of 01! 5 an a a 1 · tile
Causes of Foaming: It is cause db y . ,e _P I
·
ti e surface tension of water and mcrease
The oils and alkalies react to form soa Ps' wh!Ch ower 1

foaming tendency of boile r w ater.

 158
vented by: b il t
·ng can be pre . ts (Oil) from the o er eed water, by act .
foantJ moval of foanung agen d111g subs
.~re . ~-
NaAI02, Na2 4 • ,t such as polyam1des. lile
. anti-foaming ager.
• Addmg . lly occur together.
. . and foammg, usua , .
Pnmmg f p .ming and Foaming:
Disadvantages o _n d tages of priming and foaming :
. are the d1Sa van
Followmg d f ming the height of water column in the bo .1
t priming an oa ·1 I er can't
• Due o king the maintenance of 1:>01 er pressure difficult be iud
roperly thereby ma · &ed
P . alongwith it dissolved and suspended solids to the
• Wet steamdcarnfe~oiler Where they get deposited on evaporation of w tsuper heater
turbine bla es o . . a er. This and
reduction in the efficiency of boiler. . results~
ause corrosion of steam inlet ends of super heaters
• Wet steam may C ·
. d alts sometimes enter the other parts of tl1e machinery and da
• DISSo1ve s mage it.

13.5 Deposition of Silica

. . if t in boiler feed water gets deposited on the boiler walls in the for f
Silica presen . b m o ther
s. In high pressure boilers silica may be earned y steam to turbine blades h :nany
sta blescale 1. fll' th ff" . ,Were1tg1..
deposited in the fom 1 of scales. This resu ts into a a m e e 1C1ency of boiler. e.,
Removal of Silica
Silica present in boiler feed water can be removed by following methods:
(z) Boiler feed water is first boil_ed to remo~e temporary hardness from it. Then a calculated
amount of magnesia (MgO) IS added to it. MgO gets hydrolysed to form

MgO + H 2 0 Mg(OH)i ,J,

precipitate of Mg(OH) 2.
Silica gets absorbed on the surface of Mg(OH) 2 precipitates and hence is removed from the
boiler feed water. It can also be removed in the form of magnesium silicate.

MgO + Si0 2 Mg Si0 3

(it) By addition of Fe504 or NaA102 as coagulants

FeS0 4 + 2H20 Fe(OH)i .J, +H 2S0 4

NaA10 2 + H 2 0 Al(OHh .J, +NaOH

FeS04 and NaA102 react with water to form precipitate of Fe(OH)i and Al(?_Hh, these
precipitates trap finely suspended and colloidal impurities such as oil and sihca.

Art. 14. pH VALUE

pH value of a solution may be defined as the negative logarithm ofhydrogen ion concentration.
pH :: - log [H+j
where [H+J represents the concentration of I-J+ ions in U1e solution.