Dissolution behaviour of magnetite film formed over carbon steel in dilute organic acid media

Magnetite is the major corrosion product formed over the carbon steel in the primary heat transport system of the pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR). This magnetite usually accumulates radioactivity during reactor operation. The dissolution of the host magnetite is achieved by chemical formulations in order to get rid of the radioactivity trapped in the oxide; the underlying base metal also participates in the process by contributing electron to reduce the ferric ion or by undergoing corrosion. In the present study, the role of base metal in the dissolution of magnetite in various chelating agents has been investigated. The liberated hydrogen was measured by using an amperometric hydrogen sensor. The magnetite dissolution rate and the corrosion rate of carbon steel in the formulations were calculated. The effect of temperature, pH and concentration of the chelating agents on the magnetite film dissolution was studied in detail. The mechanism of base metal aided magnetite dissolution is discussed.