• Login
    • Join
  • FOLLOW:
  • Subscribe Free
    • Magazine
    • eNewsletter
    Checkout
    • Magazine
    • News
    • Research
    • Markets & Technologies
    • Raw Materials
    • Top Companies
    • Directories
    • Jobs
    • Events
    • Microsites
    • More
  • Magazine
  • News
  • Research
  • Markets & Technologies
  • Raw Materials
  • Top Companies
  • Directories
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Microsites
  • Current / Back Issues
    Features
    Business Corner
    Editorial
    Digital Edition
    eNewsletter Archive
    Our Team
    Editorial Guidelines
    Subscribe Now
    Advertise Now
    World Reports
    eBook
    Top Features
    CPMA Celebrates 100 Years of Leadership for the Color Pigments Industry

    Aerospace Coatings Market

    Energy Curing and Coil Coatings

    Lab/Testing Equipment Update

    High Performance and Special Effect Pigments
    Breaking News
    Online Exclusives
    Distributor News
    Financial News
    Paint & Coatings Manufacturer News
    People In the News
    Price Increases
    Product News
    Raw Materials & Equipment
    Video Bites
    Suppliers News
    Live From Shows
    Top News
    RPM to Announce Fiscal 2025 Fourth-Quarter and Year-End Results on July 24, 2025

    Nouryon Earns Awards from Texas Chemical Council and the Texas Chemistry Alliance

    Śnieżka Group Earns Higher Position in ESG Ranking

    SONGWON Appoints New Leader Business Unit Tin Intermediates / PVC

    Cabot Corporation Achieves Platinum Rating from EcoVadis
    Top Companies report
    Market Research
    White Papers / Tech Papers
    Technical Papers
    Product Spec Sheets
    World Reports
    Adhesives and Sealants
    Aerospace Coatings
    Architectural Coatings
    Automotive Coatings
    Automotive Refinish
    Business Operation
    Color Trends & Forecast
    Construction Chemicals
    Corrosion Control
    Industrial Coatings
    Laboratory Equipment
    Marine Coatings
    Market Trends & Forecast
    Powder Coatings
    Production Equipment
    Radcure Coatings
    Special Purpose Coatings
    Wood Coatings
    "Green" Coatings

    ROSS Introduces Custom Coaxial Mixer for Complex Formulations

    AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes, Solera to Enable Data-Driven Sustainability

    PPG Revitalizes School in France as Part of COLORFUL COMMUNITIES 10-year Celebration

    Jotun Joins RightShip’s Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program

    Tnemec Launches New Waterborne Epoxy Products
    Additives
    Binders
    Pigments
    Solvents

    Safic Alcan to Distribute Evonik Functional Silanes in Central Eastern Europe

    CPMA Celebrates 100 Years of Leadership for the Color Pigments Industry

    Orion S.A. Earns 10 Safety Awards from ICBA

    OXERRA Expands Augusta Facility to Enhance U.S. Distribution Capabilities

    Münzing Expands U.S. Operations with New Production Facility in South Carolina
    Company Capabilities
    Buyers Guide
    Distributor Guide
    Add New Company
    International Buyers Guide Companies
    Siltech Corporation

    Gehring Montgomery Inc

    Shepherd Color Company, The

    Patcham USA

    Evonik Corporation
    Industry Events
    Webinars
    Live From Show Event
    Top Events
    ABRAFATI SHOW 2025

    Paint Bangladesh 2025

    Paint Expo Eurasia

    CEPE Annual Conference

    Western Coatings Show
    Companies
    White Papers/Tech Papers
    Product Spec Sheets
    Equipment
    Literature/Brochures
    Videos
    International Buyers Guide Companies
    Siltech Corporation

    Gehring Montgomery Inc

    Shepherd Color Company, The

    Patcham USA

    Evonik Corporation
    • Magazine
      • Current / Back Issues
      • Features
      • Editorial
      • Business Corner
      • Digital Edition
      • eNewsletter Archive
      • Editorial Guidelines
      • Subscribe Now
      • Advertise Now
    • Breaking News
    • Directories
      • Buyers Guide
      • Distributor Guide
      • Corporate Capabilities
      • Trade Associations
      • Add Your Company
    • Markets & Technologies
      • Adhesives and Sealants
      • Aerospace Coatings
      • Architectural Coatings
      • Automotive Coatings
      • Automotive Refinish
      • Business Operation
      • Color Trends & Forecast
      • Construction Chemicals
      • Corrosion Control
      • Industrial Coatings
      • Laboratory Equipment
      • Marine Coatings
      • Market Trends & Forecast
      • Powder Coatings
      • Production Equipment
      • Radcure Coatings
      • Special Purpose Coatings
      • Wood Coatings
      • "Green" Coatings
    • Raw Materials
      • Additives
      • Binders
      • Pigments
      • Solvents
    • World Reports
      • Africa Report
      • China Report
      • India/Asia Pacific Report
      • Europe Report
      • Latin America Report
      • Market Research
      • Russian Report
    • Top Companies
    • Online Exclusives
    • Glossary
    • Slideshows
    • Experts Opinions
    • Blog
    • eBook
    • Infographics
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Whitepapers
    • Jobs
    • Microsites
      • Companies
      • White Papers/Tech Papers
      • Product Spec Sheets
      • Equipment
      • Literature/Brochures
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Industry Events
      • Live From Show Event
      • Webinars
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
    Features

    Combatting Corrosion

    Tnemec is helping the water/wastewater industry battle infrastructure corrosion, a problem that over the next 20 years will take $1 trillion to combat.

    08.09.05

    Corrosion. Most people with even a minimal understanding of the word's destructive meaning know that the problem has become worse in their lifetimes, due to major increases in harmful chemicals and pollutants in the environment.

    For the water and wastewater industry, corrosion is a problem of such magnitude that the Water Information Network-a coalition of local elected officials, drinking water and wastewater service providers, state environmental and health administrators, engineers and environmentalists dedicated to preserving and protecting America's drinking water and wastewater infrastructure-estimates that over the next 20 years it will take $1 trillion to combat.


    Increasing Corrosion at Treatment Facilities
    There are numerous factors contributing to the breakdown of concrete in wastewater treatment facilities, according to Lake Barrett, director of water/wastewater operations at Tnemec Company, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-performance coatings for specialized architectural and industrial markets based in Kansas City, MO. These include "increased levels of hydrogen sulfide, a variety of corrosive materials in the wastewater streams, constant abrasion from various media within the waste stream, variations in pH levels of the waste stream, utilization of new coagulants and disinfectants as well as carbonation and cavitation of the concrete," he said.

    Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) generation in municipal waste water treatment plants has always been present, according to Randy Nixon, senior consultant with Corrosion Probe, Inc., Centerbrook, CT. Up until the late 1970s, H2S levels stayed generally below 10 parts-per-million (ppm). During periods of low rain or high temperatures, however, levels could rise to 30-50 ppm, accelerating corrosion of concrete and causing depth losses of up to 3/4" of concrete a year.

      Traditional thin film epoxy and urethane coatings, as shown on this digester, can no longer hold up against the harsh environments now found in most wastewater treatment facilities.
    According to Mr. Nixon, following the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1980, industrial pretreatment was mandated to reduce or eliminate the presence of heavy metals from waste water discharges. These metals had been killing anaerobic bacteria found on concrete pipe and tank surfaces, and therefore dissolved sulfide concentrations were maintained at relatively low levels, hence reducing gaseous H2S levels also. Because gaseous H2S is equally as responsible for odors as it is for corrosion of concrete in wastewater treatment systems, both odor and corrosion problems have increased as a result of industrial pretreatment of heavy metals, Mr. Nixon explained.

    The building of larger regional treatment plants over the last two decades has resulted in longer travel distances and detention time for wastewater. The pumping of wastewater through force mains means that pipes run full and slime layers cover the entire circumference of the pipes. Both factors have increased the sulfide production, subsequently increasing H2S concentrations in aerated headspaces within wastewater systems.

    Mr. Barrett explained that in the collection systems for large domestic plants today, it is not uncommon to measure H2S concentrations in headspaces as high as several hundred ppm. This general trend toward higher H2S concentrations has promoted much higher concrete corrosion rates in domestic treatment plants (especially larger regional plants) than witnessed in the past. The corrosion rate of concrete has been as high as 1/2" to 3/4" per year, depending on concrete quality.

    Mr. Barrett added that sulfuric acid formation also is more constant due to the higher and more constant H2S presence. As the pH levels have dropped below 2.0, the concentrations of sulfuric acid have risen from one to three percent to well above seven percent in some municipalities.


    Decreased Effectiveness of Older Coatings and Linings Technology
    According to Mr. Barrett, protecting the concrete in wastewater treatment facilities from H2S and associated sulfuric acid attack has traditionally required the use of various protective coating and lining materials. Prior to the late 1980s, relatively thin film coatings based on coal tar epoxy and amine cured epoxy formulations provided effective corrosion protection of concrete for up to 10-12 years.

    However, Mr. Barrett contends as a result of government-mandated industrial pretreatment, construction of large regional treatment plants with longer wastewater detention times, recent air quality regulations and other factors, concrete structures in wastewater treatment systems are typically exposed to more corrosive conditions today than in the past.

    In recent years, these same coating materials have failed prematurely (within six months to two years) and severely. These failures were caused by both insufficient acid resistance and inadequate resistance to permeation by wastewater gases. Some thicker film coatings and linings (up to 1/8" thick) based on polyester, epoxy and polyurethane resins have also failed under these relatively new and more adverse exposure conditions related to higher sulfide generation.

    Another factor increasing failure of protective coatings are new methods of odor control, such as covered headspaces. Enclosed headspaces created by covers such as over clarifiers combined with higher concentrations of H2S have led to an increase in the volume of gases to which the coatings are exposed on a routine basis.

    These failures, which severely affect many of the more than 15,000 wastewater systems in the country, are now starting to be addressed by cutting-edge coatings manufacturers such as Tnemec, said Mr. Barrett.

    "Our extensive research and development processes and new products such as our Series 434 ChemBloc H2S are not only solving problems in wastewater collection and treatment systems, but are also setting new standards for the coatings industry," he added.


    Recommendations for The Future
    For all coatings currently being developed for wastewater treatment systems-especially where gaseous H2S concentrations frequently average 25 ppm or higher and attack region surface pH values are below 3.0-implementing rigorous new testing methods is critical, said Mr. Nixon.

    Coatings should measure up to standards higher than ever before in the areas of: improved sulfuric acid resistance (note: some municipalities are regularly testing products with a 10% sulfuric acid solution), lower permeability, increased film thickness, resistance to bacterial action, successful field performance history and optimum adhesion.

    Mr. Nixon believes that coatings manufacturers can rise to these new challenges.

    "With companies like Tnemec committed to developing coatings specifically designed to combat these new corrosion challenges, the industry can look forward to more solutions to these hurdles," he said.


    Tnemec: A Company To Watch
    Headquartered in Kansas City, MO Tnemec has distribution facilities in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Phoenix, Seattle, St. Paul, St. Louis and Benicia and Compton, CA and manufacturing facilities in Kansas City and Baltimore. The company also has technical representatives in the U.S., Canada, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan and Puerto Rico.

    Tnemec (cement spelled backwards, in tribute to the company's origin) is one of largest privately held companies in the U.S. specializing in industrial and architectural coatings for new construction and maintenance. The company's product line currently provides corrosion protection for a wide range of facilities and structures. Industries such as food and beverage processing, water and wastewater processing, power generation, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical and biotech, industrial process manufacturing and water tanks are beneficiaries of Tnemec's array of protective coating products.

    One of the first companies to have ANSI/NSF Std. 61 certification for coatings used in direct contact with drinking water, Tnemec has also become a top provider of interior and exterior coatings for water storage tanks.

    Tnemec was listed as a "Company To Watch" in Coatings World's 2001 Top Companies report, our annual profile of the top companies in the global market based on annual sales of paint, coatings, adhesives and sealants.
    Related Searches
    • polyurethane
    • odor
    • architectural coatings
    • tnemec
    Related Knowledge Center
    • Adhesives and Sealants
    • Corrosion Control
    • Architectural Coatings
      Loading, Please Wait..
      Breaking News
      • RPM to Announce Fiscal 2025 Fourth-Quarter and Year-End Results on July 24, 2025
      • Nouryon Earns Awards from Texas Chemical Council and the Texas Chemistry Alliance
      • Śnieżka Group Earns Higher Position in ESG Ranking
      • SONGWON Appoints New Leader Business Unit Tin Intermediates / PVC
      • Cabot Corporation Achieves Platinum Rating from EcoVadis
      View Breaking News >
      CURRENT ISSUE

      May/June 2025

      • Aerospace Coatings Market
      • Energy Curing and Coil Coatings
      • Lab/Testing Equipment Update
      • High Performance and Special Effect Pigments
      • View More >

      Cookies help us to provide you with an excellent service. By using our website, you declare yourself in agreement with our use of cookies.
      You can obtain detailed information about the use of cookies on our website by clicking on "More information”.

      • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms And Conditions
      • Contact Us

      follow us

      Subscribe

      Latest Breaking News From Nutraceuticals World

      Gattefossé Opens New Facilities in Mumbai, India
      TSI Group Unveils myHMB + Vitamin D Logo
      Indena to Showcase Metabolic, Brain Health Solutions at In-Vitality 2024

      Latest Breaking News From Coatings World

      RPM to Announce Fiscal 2025 Fourth-Quarter and Year-End Results on July 24, 2025
      Nouryon Earns Awards from Texas Chemical Council and the Texas Chemistry Alliance
      Śnieżka Group Earns Higher Position in ESG Ranking

      Latest Breaking News From Medical Product Outsourcing

      StimLabs's Umbilical Cord-Derived Wound Care Product Released in U.S.
      New Medical-Grade Bio-Based PVC Compounds Introduced
      Croívalve Reports 1st Tricuspid Coaptation Valve Implant in U.S. Feasibility Study

      Latest Breaking News From Contract Pharma

      Neurocrine Bioscience’s CRENESSITY Becomes Commercially Available in the U.S.
      Roche's Parkinson's Disease Drug Misses Primary Endpoint
      PTC Therapeutics Submits Vantiquinone NDA to FDA

      Latest Breaking News From Beauty Packaging

      Weekly Recap: Coty Sells SKKN, Henkel Recall, Awards, & More
      Rare Beauty to Host Pop-Up Event with Sephora UK
      Cloud Haircare Expands to Walmart Stores Nationwide

      Latest Breaking News From Happi

      Cosmetify Names Nikkie de Jager the World’s Most Powerful Beauty Influencer
      Big Lips in the Small Wonder
      L’Oréal’s Bioprinted Skin & Dove’s Deodorant Launch

      Latest Breaking News From Ink World

      BCF Sponsors Parliamentary Event to Engage with Policymakers
      Weekly Recap: DIC Corporation, BASF, Toyo Printing Inks Top This Week’s Stories
      INX International Launches Innova Plus NCF Nitrocellulose-Free Inks

      Latest Breaking News From Label & Narrow Web

      Mexico's Flexopolis adds second Bobst flexo press
      Paramount Labels installs Rotatek Brava 450
      Esko teams with Bobst for smartGRAVURE System

      Latest Breaking News From Nonwovens Industry

      Harper Hygienics Introduces Microbiome Care Baby Wipes
      Drylock Technologies Offers Packaging Breakthrough
      Premier Care Industries Expands Manufacturing Operations

      Latest Breaking News From Orthopedic Design & Technology

      David Thordarson Takes Charge of American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society
      UPM Biomedicals Launches FibGel Injectable Nanocellulose Hydrogel for Medical Devices
      ONWARD Medical Attracts €50 Million in Capital

      Latest Breaking News From Printed Electronics Now

      Weekly Recap: DuPont, SEMI, Sun Chemical Top This Week’s Stories
      ORNL’s 3D-Printed Metal Molds Poised to Accelerate US Auto Manufacturing
      SRI, NSIC are Catalyzing Corporate Innovation in Japan

      Copyright © 2025 Rodman Media. All rights reserved. Use of this constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Rodman Media.

      AD BLOCKER DETECTED

      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.


      FREE SUBSCRIPTION Already a subscriber? Login