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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Methods of scale inhibition using substoichiometric amounts of amino alcohol and phosphonic acids

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6024640

Most commercial water contains alkaline earth metal cations, such as calcium, barium, magnesium, and transition metals such as iron or copper, etc., and several anions such as bicarbonate, carbonate, sulfate, oxalate, phosphate, silicate, fluoride, hydroxises, etc. When combinations of these anions and cations are present in concentrations which exceed the solubility of their reaction products, precipitates form until their reaction solubility product concentrations are no longer exceeded. The precipitation of scale-forming materials in an aqueous system is inhibited by adding substoichiometric amounts of a precipitation inhibitor which consists of a mixture of an amino alcohol such as triethanolamine and certain phosphonic acids, such as amino tri(methylene phosphonic acid), to the system. (10 claims)

Assignee:
Monsanto Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 3671448
OSTI ID:
6024640
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English