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Title: Interaction of silicic acid with sulfurous acid scale inhibitor

Abstract

The solubility of amorphous silica and the inhibition of silica polymerization in the presence of sulfurous acid and sulfite salts has been investigated to 260{degrees}C. Investigations of inhibition of silica scaling from geothermal brines by sulfurous acid have produced unusual results. Bisulfite/sulfite increases amorphous silica solubility by {open_quotes}salting in{close_quotes} effects resulting from apparent complexation. Silica-sulfite complexes are postulated to form via hydrogen bonding, and appear to be much stronger than silica-sulfate complexes. Treatment of brines with sulfurous acid inhibits silica scaling by (1) retarding the kinetics of silicic acid polymerization, and (2) forming soluble sulfito-silicate complexes. Sulfurous acid offers several advantages over sulfuric acid in controlling scale deposition-reduced corrosion potential, reduced by-product scale formation potential, oxygen scavenging and inhibition of certain metal silicate scales.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. UNOCAL Geothermal Power & Operations, Santa Rosa, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
602627
Report Number(s):
CONF-971048-
TRN: 98:001318-0008
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) annual meeting, San Francisco, CA (United States), 12 Oct 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of Meeting the challenge of increased competition; PB: 665 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; 58 GEOSCIENCES; CORROSIVE EFFECTS; GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS; GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES; GEOTHERMAL FIELDS; PRODUCTION; SCALE CONTROL; SILICA; BRINES; GEOCHEMISTRY

Citation Formats

Gallup, D L. Interaction of silicic acid with sulfurous acid scale inhibitor. United States: N. p., 1997. Web.
Gallup, D L. Interaction of silicic acid with sulfurous acid scale inhibitor. United States.
Gallup, D L. 1997. "Interaction of silicic acid with sulfurous acid scale inhibitor". United States.
@article{osti_602627,
title = {Interaction of silicic acid with sulfurous acid scale inhibitor},
author = {Gallup, D L},
abstractNote = {The solubility of amorphous silica and the inhibition of silica polymerization in the presence of sulfurous acid and sulfite salts has been investigated to 260{degrees}C. Investigations of inhibition of silica scaling from geothermal brines by sulfurous acid have produced unusual results. Bisulfite/sulfite increases amorphous silica solubility by {open_quotes}salting in{close_quotes} effects resulting from apparent complexation. Silica-sulfite complexes are postulated to form via hydrogen bonding, and appear to be much stronger than silica-sulfate complexes. Treatment of brines with sulfurous acid inhibits silica scaling by (1) retarding the kinetics of silicic acid polymerization, and (2) forming soluble sulfito-silicate complexes. Sulfurous acid offers several advantages over sulfuric acid in controlling scale deposition-reduced corrosion potential, reduced by-product scale formation potential, oxygen scavenging and inhibition of certain metal silicate scales.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/602627}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Wed Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}

Conference:
Other availability
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