The anions fluoride, chloride, and sulfate have been identified as important contributors to corrosion of high pressure boilers, electric power turbines and their associated heat exchangers. Many electric power utilities attempt to reduce these contaminants in their boiler feed water to less than 1 μg/L.

In the semiconductor manufacturing process these ions, among others, have been identified as a cause of low product yield and, thus, must be monitored and controlled to levels similar to those required by the electric power industry.

Low molecular weight organic acids, such as acetate and formate, have been found in many steam generator feed waters and condensates. They are believed to come from the high temperature breakdown of organic matter found in boiler make up water. It is felt that these organic acids promote corrosion by lowering the pH of boiler waters and may even be corrosive themselves.

Such low molecular weight organics may also be produced when ultraviolet light is used to produce bacteria-free water for semiconductor processing. Such polar organic contaminants are suspected of causing reduced semiconductor yields.

Phosphates are commonly added to drum boilers in the low mg/L level to precipitate calcium and magnesium and thereby prevent scale formation. Ion chromatography can be used to monitor the concentration of such chemicals in boiler water, as well as detect unwanted carry-over into the steam.