Scale inhibitors
Scale inhibitors
Scale inhibitors are chemical agents that are mainly used in water treatment processes to prevent inorganic salts dissolved in water from forming scale or deposition on the surface of equipment. The solubility of these inorganic salts, such as calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, etc., in water changes with the changes in temperature, pressure, pH value and other factors. When they reach an oversaturated state, they will precipitate to form scale, affecting the normal operation and efficiency of the equipment.
The mechanism of action of scale inhibitors usually includes the following aspects:
1. Lattice distortion: Scale inhibitor molecules are inserted into growing crystals, changing their lattice structure, making the crystals unstable and difficult to continue growing.
2. Dispersion: Scale inhibitors can disperse tiny crystalline particles in water to prevent them from aggregating into large particles of scale.
3. Control the formation of crystal nuclei: Scale inhibitors can inhibit the formation of new crystal nuclei and reduce the possibility of scale formation.
4. Stabilization: Some scale inhibitors can form a protective film on the metal surface to prevent scale from directly contacting the metal, thereby reducing the deposition of scale.
Common scale inhibitors include organic phosphates, polycarboxylic acids, polymers, etc. These chemicals need to be selected and adjusted according to factors such as water quality, equipment material, and operating conditions. At the same time, the use of scale inhibitors also needs to pay attention to environmental issues to avoid adverse effects on the environment and human body.
