A Review of the Most Advanced Green Polymeric Inhibitors for Controlling Scale Formation in Cooling Circuits
Subject Areas :
Majid Mirzaee
1
*
,
Abbas Yousefpour
2
1 -
2 - Assistant professor, Chemistry and Process Research Group, Niroo Research Institute, P.O. Box 14665517, Tehran, Iran.
Keywords: Scale, green inhibitor, polyaspartic acid, biodegradability, stability,
Abstract :
Scale deposition is one of the problems that occur in water-containing ions of sparingly soluble salts. One of the common methods for controlling scale deposition is the use of anti-scale agents. To control of scale in cooling water systems, water treatment processes, and oil operations, large amounts of polymeric scale inhibitors are used. Like most traditional polymers, scale inhibitors are designed for long-term durability and remain for years after being discarded. With increasing environmental concerns and discharge limitations, the chemistry of scale inhibitors has shifted towards the use of "green anti-scale agents" that are easily degradable, have minimal environmental mobility, and thus have a lesser environmental impact. This presents a challenge to provide acceptable levels of efficiency with economical dosages. Numerous reports have been published on the chemistry and new products of scale inhibitors that are more environmentally acceptable than conventional anti-scale agents. This review article provides a summary of efforts to develop economical and environmentally harmless scale inhibitors. Currently, the most promising green-scale inhibitors are based on polyaspartic acid. However, there is very limited field operational data, and the widespread use of polyaspartic acid scale inhibitors is awaiting further experience in field operations.
[1] I. Rashid, "Evaluation of effectiveness of phosphate and zinc as scale inhibitor in delaying precipitation of caco3," 2020.
[2] M. M. Reddy and A. R. Hoch, "Calcite crystal growth rate inhibition by polycarboxylic acids," Journal of colloid and interface science, vol. 235, no. 2, pp. 365-370, 2001.
[3] T. R. Bott, Understanding heat exchanger fouling and its mitigation. Begell House, 1999.
[4] H. Füredi-Milhofer and S. Sarig, "Interactions between polyelectrolytes and sparingly soluble salts," Progress in Crystal Growth and Characterization of materials, vol. 32, no. 1-3, pp. 45-74, 1996.
[5] Z. He, L. Zhang, L. Wang, Q. Zhang, and L. Luan, "Anti-Scale Performance and Mechanism of Valonia Tannin Extract for Calcium Carbonate in Circulating Cooling Water System," Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 11, p. 8811, 2023.
[6] P. Zhang, L. Wang, W. Sun, Z. Yang, W. Gao, and G. Liu, "Anti-scale performance degradation of carboxylic acid scale inhibitors under corrosion conditions," Corrosion Science, vol. 222, p. 111423, 2023.
[7] N. Tsiourtis, "Desalination and the environment," Desalination, vol. 138, no. 1-3, p. 1, 2001.
[8] R. A. Gross and B. Kalra, "Biodegradable polymers for the environment," Science, vol. 297, no. 5582, pp. 803-807, 2002.
[9] A. Ketsetzi, A. Stathoulopoulou, and K. D. Demadis, "Being “green” in chemical water treatment technologies: issues, challenges and developments," Desalination, vol. 223, no. 1-3, pp. 487-493, 2008.
[10] F. A. Ansari and H. K. Sharma, "Industrially Useful Corrosion Inhibitors: Grafted Biopolymers as Ideal Substitutes," Grafted Biopolymers as Corrosion Inhibitors: Safety, Sustainability, and Efficiency, pp. 417-463, 2023.
[11] A. G. Pervov, A. P. Andrianov, and M. N. Danilycheva, "Preliminary evaluation of new green antiscalants for reverse osmosis water desalination," Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 167-174, 2018.
[12] K. D. Demadis, E. Neofotistou, E. Mavredaki, M. Tsiknakis, E.-M. Sarigiannidou, and S. D. Katarachia, "Inorganic foulants in membrane systems: chemical control strategies and the contribution of “green chemistry”," Desalination, vol. 179, no. 1, pp. 281-295, 2005/07/10/ 2005, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2004.11.074.
[13] E. Mavredaki, A. Stathoulopoulou, E. Neofotistou, and K. D. Demadis, "Environmentally benign chemical additives in the treatment and chemical cleaning of process water systems: Implications for green chemical technology," Desalination, vol. 210, no. 1, pp. 257-265, 2007/06/10/ 2007, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2006.05.050.
[14] E. Neofotistou and K. D. Demadis, "Use of antiscalants for mitigation of silica (SiO2) fouling and deposition: fundamentals and applications in desalination systems," Desalination, vol. 167, pp. 257-272, 2004.
[15] K. D. Demadis and A. Stathoulopoulou, "Solubility enhancement of silicate with polyamine/polyammonium cationic macromolecules: relevance to silica-laden process waters," Industrial & engineering chemistry research, vol. 45, no. 12, pp. 4436-4440, 2006.
[16] A. Stathoulopoulou and K. D. Demadis, "Enhancement of silicate solubility by use of “green” additives: linking green chemistry and chemical water treatment," Desalination, vol. 224, no. 1-3, pp. 223-230, 2008.
[17] D. Zhou, W. Yu, A. Wu, W. Shu, and Y. Zhang, "Optimization of preparation conditions of medium and highly substituted carboxymethyl inulin through response surface methodology," Carbohydrate Research, vol. 536, p. 109009, 2024.
[18] K. D. Demadis and A. Stathoulopoulou, "Multifunctional, environmentally friendly additives for control of inorganic foulants in industrial water and process applications," Materials performance, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 40-44, 2006.
[19] D.-J. Choi, S.-J. You, and J.-G. Kim, "Development of an environmentally safe corrosion, scale, and microorganism inhibitor for open recirculating cooling systems," Materials Science and Engineering: A, vol. 335, no. 1-2, pp. 228-235, 2002.
[20] H.-Y. Li, W. Ma, L. Wang, R. Liu, L.-S. Wei, and Q. Wang, "Inhibition of calcium and magnesium-containing scale by a new antiscalant polymer in laboratory tests and a field trial," Desalination, vol. 196, no. 1-3, pp. 237-247, 2006.
[21] A. Martinod, M. Euvrard, A. Foissy, and A. Neville, "Progressing the understanding of chemical inhibition of mineral scale by green inhibitors," Desalination, vol. 220, no. 1-3, pp. 345-352, 2008.
[22] D. Hasson, H. Shemer, and A. Sher, "State of the art of friendly “green” scale control inhibitors: a review article," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 50, no. 12, pp. 7601-7607, 2011.
[23] M.-L. Zhang et al., "Controllable synthesis of polyaspartic acid: Studying into the chain length effect for calcium scale inhibition," Desalination, vol. 570, p. 117080, 2024.
[24] M. Schweinsberg, W. Hater, and J. Verdes, "New stable biodegradable scale inhibitor formulations for cooling water: development and field tests," in 64th International Water Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, 2003, vol. 23: Citeseer.
[25] R. J. Ross, K. Low, and J. E. Shannon, "Polyaspartate scale inhibitors-biodegradable alternatives to polyacrylates," in NACE CORROSION, 1996: NACE, pp. NACE-96162.
[26] Z. Quan, Y. Chen, X. Wang, C. Shi, Y. Liu, and C. Ma, "Experimental study on scale inhibition performance of a green scale inhibitor polyaspartic acid," Science in China Series B: Chemistry, vol. 51, no. 7, pp. 695-699, 2008.
[27] W. Girasa and M. De Wispelaere, "Polyaspartate, a new alternative for the conditioning of cooling water," in 14th International Conference on the Properties of Water and Steam, Kyoto, Japan, 2004, vol. 29.
[28] S. M. Thombre and B. D. Sarwade, "Synthesis and biodegradability of polyaspartic acid: a critical review," Journal of macromolecular science, part A, vol. 42, no. 9, pp. 1299-1315, 2005.
[29] W. Hater, "Environmental compatible scale inhibitor for the mining industry," in NACE CORROSION, 1998: NACE, pp. NACE-98213.
[30] L. Ni, A. Chiriac, C. Popescu, and I. Neam, "Possibilities for poly (aspartic acid) preparation as biodegradable compound," J. Optoelectr. Adv Mater, vol. 8, pp. 663-666, 2006.