Nalco ACT 52214 Safely Reduces Corrosion in Pharmaceutical Plant
Nalco ACT 52214 Safely Reduces Corrosion in Pharmaceutical Plant
Nalco ACT 52214 Safely Reduces Corrosion in Pharmaceutical Plant
Situation
A pharmaceutical facility in Puerto Rico
uses steam in their HVAC, dehumidification, sterilization and pharmaceutical
manufacturing processes.
Steam and condensate treatments were
problematic due to high alkalinity in the
make-up water. Alkalinity breaks down
in the boiler to form carbon dioxide,
which is released into the steam where
it turns into corrosive carbonic acid.
High levels of amine products were
needed to neutralize all of the carbonic
acid and properly protect the system
from corrosion. However, amine feed
to steam is regulated by OSHA for
humidification, and additionally, by the
FDA, when steam is used in the
manufacturing of pharmaceutical
products. Amine demand exceeded the
regulatory limits at times, meaning that
insufficient product was being fed to
effectively control corrosion. Total iron
30-Apr
17-May
Figure 1 Due to regulatory restrictions, it was difficult to feed enough neutralizing amine to
combat corrosion in this system. Use of Nalco ACT 52214 reduced total iron levels dramatically
of in a matter weeks.
Nalco Company
1601 West Diehl Road
Naperville, Illinois 60563-1198
www.nalco.com
Nalco ACT, NALCO and the logo are Registered Trademarks of Nalco Company
2005 Nalco Company All Rights Reserved 3-05
Performance
A two-month evaluation of the Nalco
ACT 52214 program at the pharmaceutical plant showed significant
reduction in condensate system
corrosion. Figure 1 shows that total
iron levels dropped dramatically within
just a few weeks of using Nalco ACT.
In addition, filter pad test results
showed corrosion rates had been
reduced to low, non-detectable levels
(Figures 2 and 3).
Results
As shown in Figure 1, the pharmaceutical plant was able to reduce total iron
concentrations nearly 100% using
Nalco ACT, compared to the levels
experienced with the old, conventional
amine-based treatment program.
Additional benefits:
The old treatment contained highly
alkaline, neutralizing amines. These
can be potential human and environmental hazards. The need to use
neutralizing amines was eliminated.
Because the active ingredients in
Nalco ACT contain no amines or
VOCs, no reactive amines or other
VOCs could be introduced through
direct steam contact, humidification
or contact with condensed steam.
The new Nalco ACT program
contributed no odor nor taste to
the pharmaceutical end product.
It was easy to feed enough Nalco
ACT to provide corrosion control,
unlike the neutralizing amine
product.
Return On Investment
ROI = 100 x
ROI = 100 x
Regulatory Approvals
Nalco ACT 52214 is approved for use
in pharmaceutical plants under OSHA
PEL Regulation 29CFR and FDA
regulation 21CFR covering steam
system additives. Nalco ACT is consistent with the ISPE Baseline Pharmaceutical Engineering Guide recommendations, is GMO free and carries ISEGA,
USDA, NSF and Kosher approvals.