To evaluate, at laboratory scale, different chemical treatments commonly used in cleaning of refinery components and equipment, a methodology was developed. This method consisted in exposing deposit samples to the cleaning solutions by periods corresponding to those used in real cleaning procedures, and then quantify the weight loss of such specimens. This was related to the performance of treatments studied. In addition to the efficiency as cleaning products, corrosivity of these chemical treatments was measured through weight loss tests.
Keywords: cleaning, corrosion rates, aluminum, stainless steel