Early period corrosion and scaling characteristics of ductile iron pipe for ground water supply with sodium hypochlorite disinfection

Abstract

The corrosion and scaling phenomenon have crucial impact on drinking water distribution systems (DWDS), which might lead to pipe blockage or leakage, colored water and other chemical stability issues. In this study, a simulating pipe system with continuous water flow was prepared to investigate the characteristics of corrosion and scaling on ductile iron pipe transporting ground water with sodium-hypochlorite (NaOCl) disinfection. Electrochemical assays, such as polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectra were applied to monitor the corrosion and scaling process. Results showed the morphology and components of scale were closely related with the electrochemical analysis results. The corrosion current density decreased continuously as corrosion and scaling proceeded. The process could be divided into three stages. During Stage I (0–20 days), the corrosion current intensity of low NaOCl dosage experiments (1, 2 mg/L) were higher than those of high NaOCl dosage experiments (5, 10 mg/L). The difference could be explained by different oxidation potentials, pH and CaCO3 deposition. During Stage II (20–80 days), higher proportions of Fe3O4 in scale in experiments with no or low NaOCl dosages restrained the corrosion process and presented smaller corrosion current. Subsequently, the ductile iron surface became passivated and the difference of various NaOCl dosages affecting corrosion and scaling process turned to be negligible during Stage III (80–90 days). A negative linear relationship between the proportion of stable scale component and the corrosion current density was established. Besides the direct corrosion reaction with iron substrate, NaOCl dosing was accompanied by an increase in pH and calcium carbonate precipitation potential values, which affected the early period corrosion and scaling phenomenon greatly.