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Blast cleaning salt contaminated steel

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We are presently blast cleaning and lining petrochemical tanks at a coastal location. The steel has an extremely high chloride contamination which must be reduced to less than 200 mg per square meter. We have environmental control on site to avoid further contamination, but find it difficult to get down to the required levels with only blasting.

1. Has any one experience in this field?

2. Any suggestions for chemical pretreatment?

Thanks for a very enlightening home page.

Kind Regards,

Abe Chalef
Internet Africa

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The only way to remove the salt of the steel surface, is to steam clean it first, using an alkaline cleaner. You must do this before the blasting because the blasting will only disperse the salt across the surface. Good luck with your project.

MF deKeizer
The Netherlands

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January 21, 2008

you can wash using CHLOR*rid detergent

Mohamed Elsayed
- Alexandria, Egypt

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January 22, 2008 Thanks, Mohamed! If readers have difficulty finding this product, there are a number of other brand names of detergents designed to remove salt. I am not personally familiar with the relative effectiveness of the various brands, but the trade names include "Salt-Away Salt Remover Spray" [linked by editor to product info at Boater's World], and "Supreme Marine Salt Remover". Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

Salt-Away from Boater's World

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