Sodium species vaporised from melting batch and molten glass are the principle agents of corrosion of superstructure refractory and main contributors to emissions or particulate matter from soda-lime-silica glass melting in natural gas fired tank furnaces. The use of oxygen in place of air for combustion of the natural gas reduces particulate emissions, but has been associated with accelerated corrosion in some melting tanks. Methods for measuring sodium are under investigation as means for identifying its voltilization, transport, and deposition mechanisms and developing strategies for reduction of particulate matter emissions and corrosion. Three different methods were used to measure the concentrations of sodium species at various locations in an oxygen-natural gas fired soda-lime-silica glass melting furnace. Measurements were made in the combustion space using the absorption of visible light by sodium atoms and in the flue duct using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Measurements in both the combustion space and flue were also made by withdrawing and analyzing samples of the gas and suspended particles.
