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[wnovaes]

Dear All,

We are facing problems of premature plate heat exchanger leakage through the gaskets due to the chemical attack of the gaskets. The plate heat exchanger is used for cooling the light ends cut of our first fatty acids distillation column, bellow fallows the operation conditions of the cooling process:

Stream: Light Ends;
Composition (%wt):
C6 acid – 4.0;
C8 acid – 53.0;
C10 acid – 42.0;
C12 acid – 1.0.
Temperature (oC):
In – 80;
Out – 50;
Cooler Medium: Cooling Water (31 oC to 41 oC)

The plate heat exchanger was designed using NBR gaskets and during the first leakage problem we replace the gaskets for HNBR. However, the heat exchanger leaked through the gaskets in a couple months again. We observer that closed the inlet (high temperature) the gasket was attacked for the acids however closed the outlet (low temperature) the gasket was not attacked for the acids.
What is the recommended gaskets material used for this kind of duty?

Tanks and Best Regards,
William Novaes.