How to Test Neutralizing Amine in Steam

Neutralizing amines are volatile organic compounds such as cyclohexylamine that contains the amino group (NH2). They help to protect steel from the corrosion in boilers under acidic condition. Boiler steam contains carbon dioxide that produces carbonic acid (H2CO3) when it reacts with water. Since amines are basic, they neutralize that acid. Use pH paper to test for the presence of neutralizing amines. The pH paper allows you to determine the acidity of the media in pH units. pH values above seven correspond to the basic media.

Things You'll Need

• pH paper
• Distilled water
• Forceps

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Tear off a piece of the pH paper. This piece should be about two inches long.

   • 2

     Moisturize one end of the pH paper with the distilled water.

   • 3

     Take the other end of the pH paper with the forceps and insert it into the steam sample.

   • 4

     Compare the color of the pH paper with the pH scale that comes with the paper package to determine the pH of the steam. If pH is in the range from eight to nine, then neutralizing amines are present in the steam.