Carbohydrazide as an Oxygen
Scavenger and Passivator
Figure 1 – Oxygen scavenger stability
(Initial concentration 200 mg/L)
INTRODUCTION
Carbohydrazide is a safer, easier to use
“chemical” packaging of the hydrazine
oxygen scavenger technology. For many
years, hydrazine has been used as one
of the principal chemical oxygen
scavenger raw materials in high pres-
sure and nuclear applications. When
hydrazine became listed as a suspected
carcinogen, it became apparent that a
“safe” alternative was needed.
At temperatures below 275°F (134°C),
carbohydrazide is very stable and is an
effective oxygen scavenger and
passivator. Above 300°F (149°C),
carbohydrazide begins to break down
to form hydrazine, which is an estab-
lished oxygen scavenger/passivator
with a 50- year history in the utility
systems. The decomposition to
hydrazine is completed at 600°F
(316°C). See Figure 1.
Carbohydrazide will react with both
oxygen and metal oxides. The effi-
ciency of the reaction is dependent on
time, temperature, concentration and
the system pH. Generally, as the pH,
time and temperature increase, the
rate of reaction increases.
Chemistry
Carbohydrazide is the dihydrazide of
carbonic acid. It can react with oxygen
directly at temperatures of less than
275°F (134°C) in the following
equation:
(NH2NH)2CO + 2O2 →
2N2 + 3H2O + CO2
At temperatures above 275°F (134°C),
the carbohydrazide starts to hydrolyze
to hydrazine and an additional reaction
applies:
(NH2NH)2CO + H2O →
2N2H4 + CO2
Carbohydrazide is relatively stable at
room temperatures. At elevated
temperatures, hydrazine and carbon
dioxide are released, followed by the
reaction with oxygen.
2N2H4 + 2O2 → 4H2O + 2N2
As a passivator, carbohydrazide reacts
with iron and copper oxides to form
protective passive oxides:
12Fe2O3 + (NH2NH)2CO →
8Fe3O4 + 3H2O + 2N2 +CO2
8CuO + (NH2NH)2CO →
4Cu2O + 3H2O + 2N2 + CO2
(Continued on Reverse Side)
Technifax TF-221
 100
Cat. hydroquinone
80 Sulfite

% Oxygen removal
Hydroquinone
60
DEHA
Erythorbate
40
Cat. hydrazine
Hydrazine
20
Carbohydrazide

0
2 4 6 8 10
Minutes to reaction

Figure 2 – Oxygen scavenger capability 122°F (50°C) pH 9.0

Boiler Standby Residual Monitoring

The excellent low temperature oxygen The recommended method to
scavenging capabilities at low product monitor the amount of reducing
residuals make carbohydrazide a good agent (carbohydrazide + hydrazine) in
choice for boiler lay-up. Under nitrogen the boiler feedwater is the test for
cap, a 30 to 50 ppm residual of carbo- ELIMIN-OX®.
hydrazide will protect the boiler system
Nalco recommends a carbohydrazide
from oxygen attack over prolonged
residual of between 25 to 50 ppb in
periods. Low residuals eliminate the
the feedwater.
need to drain and refill the units prior
to start-up, thus minimizing chemical Figure 2 illustrates the oxygen
consumption and waste. consumption reaction times associ-
ated with several of the popular
High hydrazine residuals of over
oxygen scavengers. Please note that
200 ppm are recommended for wet
this data applies only to the specific
boiler storage. Due to concerns about
set of conditions stated on the graph
high ammonia levels generated from the
thermal decomposition of hydrazine,
the boiler system has to be drained and
refilled prior to start-up because of the
high volume of ammonia that will be
generated at operating temperature.