Problem Summary

The buildup of calcium carbonate and sulfate scales on pulp mill equipment can cause a variety of production and quality problems such as equipment downtime, poor runnability, and sheet defects.  Mills typically use strong acids to remove these scales.  The most common acids used for removing scale from equipment are hydrochloric, sulfamic, and phosphoric acid.  Although these acids effectively remove scale, they are corrosive to mill equipment and also pose serious health and safety risks to mill personnel.  Other chemicals used for removing scale (e.g., chelants and organic acids) are usually more costly and less effective than strong acids.

Recommended Solution

Exclusive to Hercules, Infinity® Acid Replacement Technology effectively removes the most stubborn calcium carbonate and sulfate scales while significantly reducing acid-related corrosion.  The product, which is a salt of hydrochloric acid, is non-fuming and VOC and phosphate free.  The properties of this salt make it much less corrosive than acid and, therefore, safer to handle.  In fact, Infinity® Acid Replacement Technology is rated as only a mild irritant for human skin contact.

Mill and laboratory tests have shown Infinity® Acid Replacement Technology to be as effective as hydrochloric acid at removing the toughest calcium carbonate and sulfate scales.

Key benefits recorded from practical applications of Infinity® Acid Replacement Technology include:

Effective scale removal
Reduced corrosion
Reduced health and safety risks