Hydrogen absorption of steel in non-acidic H2S-NH3 environments has not been experimentally confirmed yet in spite of a lot, of experiences of hydrogen damage in refineries. This study clarified that (1 )HS-, which is dissociated from H2S and the predominant cathodic reactant over pH7, prevents hydrogen absorption by passivating steel at room temperature, (2)if the passivation current increases with elevating temperature or by adding EDTA to form complex ions with iron, steel remains in an active state and absorbs hydrogen, and (3)if the cathodic current of reduction of HS- decreases with lowering partial pressure of H2S, steel is not passivated and absorbs hydrogen.
Keywords: hydrogen absorption, steel, non-acidic H2S-NH3 environment, HS-, refinery, temperature, pH, active dissolution, limiting current clensity, corrosion rate, EDTA