CAUTION

Any diluted stannous chloride not used the day it is made should be discarded.

The following procedure is used to make the test for phosphate:

1. Without disturbing any settled sludge, transfer enough of the sample to the test tube to till it about half full.

2. Add 1/4 tsp of decolorizing carbon. Stopper the tube and shake vigorously for about 1 minute. The carbon absorbs the tannin so it can be filtered out.

3. Fold a filter paper and place it in the filter funnel. Do not wet down the filter paper with water. Filter the shaken sample, using a combination mixing tube as a receiver. The carbon absorbs tannin, and the tannin and sludge present are filtered out more rapidly. Avoid jiggling the funnel, as unfiltered boiler water may overflow the edge of the filter paper into the tube. You have to support the funnel.

4. After 5 ml of the sample has filtered through, as indicated by the level in the tube, discard it. Continue filtering to bring the level in the test tube again up to the 5-ml mark. The sample should come through clear and free, or nearly free, of any color from the tannin. If not nearly free of tannin color. repeat the test, using 1/2 tsp of carbon. adding it in two 1/4-tsp portions, shaking it for 1 minute after each addition.

5. Add the comparator molybdate reagent to bring the level up to the second mark ( 15 ml). Stopper and mix by inverting the tube several times.

6. Add fresh diluted stannous chloride up to the third mark (17.5 ml). Stopper and mix by inverting. If phosphate is present, the solution in the mixing tube turns blue.

7. Place the tube in the comparator block. Compare the color of the solution in the tube with the standard colors of the phosphate color block. Colors between the two standard colors may be estimated. Take the reading within 1 minute after adding the stannous chloride, because the color fades quickly.

8. Record the results as LOW, if below 30 ppm; HIGH, if above 60 ppm, or OK, if between 30 and 60 ppm.

Test for Tannin

The purpose of the TANNIN TEST is to determine the amount of tannin in the boiler water. Tannin holds sludge in suspension. In treating boiler water with tannin, control the dosage by the depth of brown formed in the boiler water by the tannin. To estimate the depth of the color, which is necessary in adjusting tannin dosages, compare a sample of the boiler water with a series of brown color standards of successively increased depths of color. A tannin color comparator, which is used for the comparison, has five glass color standards: No. 1, very light; No. 2, light: No. 3, medium; No. 4, dark; and No. 5, very dark.

The kit for the tannin test contains the following:

One tannin color comparator

Two square tubes, 13-mm viewing depth

One plain test tube, 22 mm by 175 mm

One filter funnel, 65 mm by 65 mm

One package of filter paper, 11 cm in diameter

making this test, you first fill a plain test tube almost to the top with cool boiler water. Then place a square test tube in the slot of the comparator, and insert the filter funnel in it. Fold a filter paper and place it in the funnel without wetting it down. Filter water from the plain test tube into the square tube until the tube is neatly full. Remove the square tube from the comparator and hold it up to a good source of natural light. Note the appearance of the filtered boiler water. Is it free of suspended solids and sludge? If not, refilter the sample, using the same funnel and filter paper. Repeat, using a double filter paper if necessary, until the sample does come through free of suspended solids and sludge.

To complete the test, place the square tube of filtered sample in the middle slot of the comparator. Then compare the color of the sample with the five standards, viewing it against a good source of natural light. The color standard most closely matching the color of the filtered sample gives the tannin concentration of the boiler water. For a number of boiler water conditions, the tannin dosage is usually satisfactory if it maintains a medium (No. 3) tannin color. If the tannin color is too high, blow down; if too low, add tannin.

Test for Caustic Alkalinity (OH) without Tannin

The boiler water sample for this test is collected at a temperature of 70F or below.