CHEMICAL CLEANING: PICKLING & PASSIVATION INSPECTION

INTRODUCTION:
Chemical cleaning of equipment and piping networks, performed to clear all metal surfaces of chemical or
physical pollution (inclusions, fatty matter, welding waste, pitting, slag and sand, oxides, etc.) liable to affect
installation or contaminate the fluids conveyed.

It involves:

o surface cleaning (degreasing, pickling)

o conditioning (passivation, neutralization and drying) and

o conservation procedures.

The treatments may be performed for carbon steels, stainless steels, copper and aluminium alloys.
The treatments must be suited to the grades, size and geometry of the items treated.

Pickling is a metal surface treatment used to remove impurities, such as stains, inorganic contaminants, rust
or scale from ferrous metals, copper, and aluminum alloys. A solution called pickle liquor, which contains
strong acids, is used to remove the surface impurities. It is commonly used to descale or clean steel in
various steelmaking processes.

o Pickling is metal surface cleaning process from scales or corrosion product using acid solution.

o Pickling process involve inhibitor to protect base metal from acid solution using.

Example pickling application:

o Material Name: Duplex Stainless Steel, equipments: Cup brush (CAS-31 Stainless Steel Wire), paint

brush, nikko steel (NS – Stainclean), Hardener (UT-R-20)

o Material Name: SS 304 , inhibitor : Quinoline (C9H7N), pickling solution (Larutan pickling) : HCl

Passivation, in physical chemistry and engineering, refers to a material becoming “passive,” that is, being
less affected by environmental factors such as air and water. Passivation involves a shielding outer-layer of
base material, which can be applied as a microcoating, or which occurs spontaneously in nature. As a
technique, passivation is the use of a light coat of a protective material, such as metal oxide, to create a shell
against corrosion. The technique of passivation is used to strengthen and preserve the appearance of
metallics.

Notes:

o The term passivation is commonly applied to several distinctly different operations or processes

relating to stainless steels. In order to avoid ambiguity in the setting of requirements, it may be

necessary for the purchaser to define precisely the intended meaning of passivation.
 o The pipework requiring chemical cleaning will be indicated on the Piping and Instrument Diagrams

and Piping Isometrics and shall be cleaned in accordance with Client (COMPANY)

Requirements/specifications.

o Chemical cleaning shall generally be carried out after hydrostatic testing.

o All pre-cleaned equipment such a filters/strainers shall be removed.

o All connections to operating mechanisms such as instruments, pumps, compressors, etc, shall be

disconnected and a temporary by-pass installed to allow continuous circulation.

o Any pipe fittings or other components that are removed prior to cleaning should be carefully

inspected for cleanliness and protected.

o Temporary piping shall be installed as necessary to complete the piping systems being cleaned.

o Exposed threads and machined surfaces shall be masked and protected from the pickling chemicals.

THE PICKLING CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS

Before use, the pickling solutions must satisfy the requirements in respect of their chemical composition and
the presence of contaminants.
The products recommended by the EPCI CONTRACTOR must satisfy the Client (COMPANY)
requirements and any additional requirements concerning safety of personnel and equipment and protection
of the environment.
These are solutions to be used, e.g. :

o ESAB StainClean Pickling Gel

o Stainless Steel Pickling Gel Nikko Steel

o Taseto New Bright #300E Pickling paste/liquid

o Sandvik’s pickling and passivating pastes

ESAB StainClean Pickling Gel

StainClean pickling paste is used for cleaning and passivating of welding joints and the heat affected zone
(HAZ) for welded stainless steel constructions. Pickling paste is applied with a paintbrush. After pickling
and generous flushing with water (high pressure), the corrosion resistance of the weld site is restored.
StainClean has an extraordinary good adhesive capacity and can be applied on vertical surfaces and ceilings
without any risk of running or drying.
Stainclean Green pickling paste is a pickling paste with an entirely new formula. The paste is virtually free
from formation of toxic, nitric gases.
NOTE: All Stainclean products are toxic and corrosive
TASETO NEWBRIGHT (Pickling Acid）

TASETO NEWBRIGHT is a one-liquid pickling acid, and removes oxide scales produced during welding
and heat treatments of stainless steel without wearing off any of the austenitic matrix.

● Applicable materials
Austenitic stainless steel：SUS304, 304L, 32l, 316, 316L, 30l, 302, 309S, 310S, 347, 309, 310 , 330.
Duplex stainless steel ：S31803，TP2205，TP2507

● Types
TASETO NEWBRIGHT #300E High adhesion coating type

Sandvik’s pickling and passivating pastes

Sandvik provides two types of pickling paste for cleaning and passivating of welding joints and the heat
affected zone (HAZ) in welded stainless steel constructions.

CHEMICAL CLEANING OF STAINLESS STEEL PIPES

Stainless steel pipes and other components are normally supplied pickled and passivated.
Welding if well inerted should not produce surface state which would require further pickling and
passivation.

This operation shall be carried out as per the following steps:

o Degreasing is generally not necessary except if the quantity of grease is too important and cannot be

removed by hand.

o Rinsing shall be carried out with clean water and hosepipe.

o Cold pickling (at ambient temperature)

o Rinsing shall be carried out with clean water and hosepipe.

o Passivation, If required, passivation shall be carried out as per ASTM A 967 in an oxidizing (nitric)

medium containing less than 5 g/l total dissolved iron.

o Final Rinsing shall be carried out with clean water and hosepipe

o Blowing, drain all low points if any, and dry the network with compressed air to remove water traces.

o Oil flushing,
CHEMICAL CLEANING OF EXTERNAL SURFACE OF STAINLESS STEEL COMPONENTS

External surface of stainless steel piping or equipment in which have been polluted during fabrication shall
be mechanically or chemically cleaned. Traces of contamination shall be removed using methods described
below.

o Mechanical cleaning: Oxidation may be removed by mechanical means. The surface shall be

polished with a grinder and a smooth transition to the unpolished base material surface shall be made.

The final surface roughness, Ra, shall be less than 12.5 micrometres. (See Client

Requirements/specifications).

o Pickling and passivation using liquids: Pickling and passivation shall be carried out in accordance

with Client Requirements/specifications.

o Pickling and passivation using pastes: Pickling and passivation using pastes shall only be used on

the outside of piping or equipment. Pastes shall be specifically produced for the purpose of oxidation

removal and shall contain no halogens. Any residuals of such pastes shall be removed after cleaning

by washing with copious quantities of fresh water. Such pastes shall be used in accordance with the

recommendations of the paste supplier.

SAFETY : Staff protection

Elementary protections have to be taken by the people involved in the chemical cleaning operations.

Prior to start the pickling activity, the area shall be barricaded and ensure all personnel involved shall wear
the proper PPE as per the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets).

They must wear some safety equipment such as gloves, boots, aprons, and goggles.

They must read MSDS prior working.

Working area shall have adequate ventilation and access.

Safety procedure and equipments shall be established in case of splitting: on skin or in the eyes.

In any case, see a doctor.

QUALITY CONTROL: Pickling & Passivation Inspection

All work and materials shall be subject to inspection and carried out to the satisfaction of the Contractor and
the Independent Inspection Authority. QC Inspector shall perform the inspection before, during and after
pickling cleaning.

o During cleaning: If chemical cleaning is carried out, the cleaning solution shall be tested for inhibitor

effectiveness prior to its introduction to the relevant system.

o Inspection after cleaning: Visual inspection shall be made at all accessible points to assess the degree

of cleanliness achieved. Lube oil, seal oil and control oil systems shall be inspected as noted in API

Std 614.

Inspections and Acceptance shall be carried out in the presence of a representative of the Client / OWNER.

Acceptance checks

Acceptance checks shall be based on Cleanliness tests, Passivity or decontamination tests and Inhibition
effectiveness inspection.
These are mainly:

o Visual tests

o White rag tests

o Wood lamp test

o Water film test

o Ferricyanide test

o pH monitoring Test (by litmus paper or pH indicator)

Acceptance criteria:

o Visual examination: The surface must be totally free of corrosion products and foreign bodies.

o Wood lamp test: The test must not reveal the presence of fatty matter.

o White rag test: In the case of stainless steels alloys, the rag must remain clean.

o Water film test: Any discontinuity in the film caused by the presence of fatty matter shall be

unacceptable.

o Ferricyanide test: No blue colouration should appear on the surface being examined within 15

seconds of application.

o Corrosion: The inhibition inspection is based on observation of the surface condition of a coupon

placed inside the reactive medium. Measurements by weight may be used to supplement these

observations.
 o Steel wool pad: The inhibition inspection is based on immersing a pad of steel wool in the medium.

Salting out of the pad on the surface of the solution indicates an inhibition fault.

Notes:
After pickling cleaning, Company’s representative and/or inspector shall examine and declare free any
visible deposits of oils, grease, or other contaminants on the surface. If any of them are present, pickling
cleaning shall be re-performed.

PRESERVATION OF CLEANED SYSTEMS:

Generally, cleaned systems shall be blanked off by metal closures until required for commissioning.

Upon acceptance of pickling, the pipes/line shall be protected by plastic wrapping to avoid further
contamination.

ENVIRONMENTAL: Waste products

Pickling sludge is the waste product from pickling, and includes acidic rinse waters, iron chlorides, and
metallic salts and waste acid. Spent pickle liquor is considered a hazardous waste by the EPA. Pickle sludge
from steel processes is usually neutralized with lime and disposed of in a landfill. After neutralization the
EPA no longer deems it a hazardous waste. The lime neutralization process raises the pH of the spent acid.
The waste material is subject to a waste determination to ensure no characteristic or listed waste is present.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) is an agency of the U.S.
federal government which was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment by
writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The EPA was proposed by President
Richard Nixon and began operation on December 2, 1970, after Nixon signed an executive order. The EPA
has its headquarters in Washington, D.C., regional offices for each of the agency’s ten regions, and 27
laboratories. The agency conducts environmental assessment, research, and education.
TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE PRODUCTS
For the waste water treatment, before pickling activity started, the waste water collector drum shall be
prepared properly.
After cleaning, the water shall adequate to flow on collection of waste.
The treatment and/or disposal of waste products shall be the responsibility of the CONTRACTOR with all
due respect for current regulations.
DOCUMENTATION:

o Pickling & Passivation Procedure

o Pickling & Passivation Reports

o MSDS

o Material technical data

The Contractor shall maintain a complete and accurate record of all spools, or systems, which have been
flushed.

On completion of any chemical cleaning a COMPLETION CERTIFICATE shall be submitted to

Client/COMPANY for review and approval.