Elaine M. Wightman

The role of iron in sulfide induced corrosion of sewer concrete

The sulfide-induced corrosion of concrete sewer is a widespread and expensive problem for water utilities worldwide. Fundamental knowledge of the initiation and propagation of sewer corrosion, especially the interactions between chemical reactions and physical structure changes, is still largely unknown. Advanced mineral analytical techniques were applied to identify the distribution of corrosion products and the micro-cracking that developed along the corrosion boundary. It was found that sewer concrete corrosion caused by reactions with sulfuric acid progressed uniformly in the cement of concrete. In contrast to conventional knowledge, iron rust rather than gypsum and ettringite was likely the factor responsible for cracking ahead of the corrosion front. The analysis also allowed quantitative determination of the major corrosion products, i.e., gypsum and ettringite, with the latter found closer to the corrosion front. The conceptual model based on these findings clearly demonstrated the complex interactions among different chemical reactions, diffusion, and micro-structure changes.

Selectivity in the polymer assisted separation of galena from quartz by flotation

The flotation of ultrafine (< 5 μm) sulphide minerals is notoriously poor. A method of selectively aggregating ultrafine galena particles with coarse galena particles has been developed. Key features of this method include: minimising entrapment of non-values into the aggregate structure and; provision of adequate free surface to allow collector adsorption after aggregation so that separation can be achieved using conventional flotation methods. Results from particle interaction and polymer adsorption experiments are presented. Flotation experiments on mixed mineral, galena-quartz, slurries using both traditional and the newly proposed aggregation method, over a range of polymer concentrations, are reported.

Corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete sewers

Hydrogen sulfide is a controlling factor for concrete corrosion in sewers, although its impact on sewer rebar corrosion has not been investigated to date. This study determined the corrosion mechanism of rebar in sewers by elucidating the roles of chloride ions, apart from the effects of hydrogen sulfide and biogenic sulfuric acid. The nature and distribution of rusts at the steel/concrete interface were delineated using the advanced mineral analytical techniques, including mineral liberation analysis and micro X-ray diffraction which is the first-ever use in such studies. The corrosion products were found to be mainly iron oxides or oxy-hydroxides. H2S and biogenic sulfuric acid did not directly participate in the product formation of steel partly covered by concrete or directly exposed to sewer atmosphere. Instead, chloride ions played an important role in initiating steel corrosion in sewers, supported by a thin chloride-enriched layer at the steel/rust interface. Away from the chloride-enriched layer, iron oxides accumulated on both sides of the mill-scale to form a corrosion layer and corrosion-filled paste respectively. The corrosion layer around rebar circumference was non-uniform and the rust thickness with respect to polar coordinates followed a Gaussian model. These findings support predictions of sewer service lifetime and developments of corrosion prevention strategies.