Validation of a chromatographic method and its use in the determination of sulphates in the products of atmospheric corrosion of zinc exposed to SO2 and NO2

• Published in: Revista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia
• Main Authors: Paula Andrea Montoya Zuluaga, Juan Guillermo Castaño Gonzalez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad de Antioquia 2005-11-01
• Subjects: zinc; atmospheric corrosion; SEM/EDX; ion chromatography; SO2; NO2
• Online Access: https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/ingenieria/article/view/344316
• ISSN: 0120-6230; 2422-2844

The role of SO2 and NO2 in the atmospheric corrosion of zinc was studied by determining sulphates as the main products of corrosion when this metal is exposed to atmospheres containing SO2 and NO2. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM/EDX) and Ion Exchange Chromatography (IC) were used as instrumental techniques. The former was used to establish the morphology and the elementary qualitative determination of corrosion products, and the latter to quantify sulphates. Before conducting the chromatographic analyses a series of parameters such as selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of quantification, and detection limit, were evaluated to validate the method and to have the statistical certainty of its utility in the sulphate quantification. The results showed that when the metal is exposed to an atmosphere containing SO2 and NO2, the sulphate formation increases with exposure time. A synergetic effect of both polluting agents on sulphate formation was found with respect to the sulphate formation in atmospheres containing only SO2.