The main objectives of the present study were to investigate brass corrosion mechanisms, and to develop a new, effective process to control drinking water lead contamination contributed from brass fixtures. A lead-selective chemical treatment process was developed for the control of drinking water lead contamination contributed from brass fixtures. Metallic lead in the brass surface was oxidized with a solution containing approximately 0.01 M cupric chloride and pH - 2.0. The oxidized lead and also some zinc dissolved into the treatment solution and was replaced by more stable metallic copper. The formation of a copper-enriched, lead-depleted surface was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray emission spectroscopy. Brass surfaces in contact with water tend to undergo a slower aging process called dezincification which ultimately results in the formation of copper-enriched surfaces. The process developed in this study was an accelerated version of dezincification. Consequently, the copper-enriched interface should be stable and prevent lead contamination beyond the 92 days of exposure investigated.
| File Size : | 1
file |
| ISBN(s) : | 0898677149 |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 28 |
| Published : | 01/01/1993 |
