KOH Scrubbing of Acidic Gas

The treatment of acidic gas emissions from industrial processes is important as these emissions cause serious problems for the environment. 

The corrosive acidic gases can have a devastating effect on buildings, vehicles or plant. Moreover, when in contact with human skin they can be harmful. That is why industrial enterprises take seriously the removal of acidic gases.

One of the most common industrial emissions is hydrofluoric acid (HF). HF alkylation units generate gas which need to be neutralized prior to their burning in the flare. The presence of HF can create high corrosion rates in flare stacks, moreover, any release of HF into the air must be eliminated. It is primarily due to safety reasons that HF removal must be carried out.

Wet scrubbing is considered one of the most common and effective ways to capture acidic gases. In the scrubber, hydrofluoric acid is removed from the gas by reacting it with a caustic solution, for example, potassium hydroxide (KOH). KOH forms a strongly alkaline aqueous solution which acts as a reactive agent neutralizing the acids. The product of the chemical reaction is potassium fluoride (KF) which is very soluble in water. After the gas has been neutralized, it can proceed to burning in the flare stack.

• Neutralized gas ready for flaring

Chemical curve: Potassium hydroxide R.I. per Conc% b.w. at Ref. Temp. of 20˚C