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

Methods of scale inhibition using substoichiometric amounts of amino alcohols

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6215374

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 bicabonate, carbonate, sulfate, oxalate, phosphate, silicate, fluoride, hydroxides, etc. When combinations of these anions and cations are present in concentrations which exceed the solubiity of their reaction products, precipitates form until their reaction solubility product concentrations are no longer exceeded. For example, when the concentrations of calcium ion and sulfate ion exceeded solubility of the calcium sulfate, a solid phase of calcium sulfate will form. Similarly an iron hydroxy material will form and precipitate. The precipitation of scale-forming materials in an aqueous system is inhibited by adding substoichiometric amounts of an amino alcohol such as triethanolamine to the system. (10 claims)

Assignee:
Monsanto Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 3671447
OSTI ID:
6215374
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English