Dissolution of magnetite coupled galvanically with iron in environmentally friendly chelant solutions

The galvanic coupling between magnetite and iron in ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) solutions both with and without added iron(II) ions has been studied using electrochemical methods. The galvanic coupling accelerates the corrosion of iron due to the small shift in its potential in the anodic direction. At the same time, the potential of magnetite is cathodically polarized away from the potential range where the only faradaic process—the reductive dissolution of magnetite—takes place and results in a considerable decrease in its dissolution. Magnetite dissolves faster at the galvanic potential when [EDDS] ⩾ [Fe2+] whereas iron is affected to a much lesser extent. The ratio between the rates of dissolution of magnetite at the galvanic potential to that at its steady state potential tends to decrease at higher temperatures and at higher EDDS and Fe2+ concentrations. This study shows that temperature plays a decisive role in the dissolution of magnetite coupled to iron. To completely remove it from the iron surface, high temperatures should be used. Corrosion inhibitors have to be considered when high losses of the base metal cannot be tolerated.