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The inhibition of calcium and barium sulfate nucleation and the relationship to scale control

Book ·
OSTI ID:70118
; ;  [1]
  1. Rice Univ., Houston, TX (United States). Dept. of Environmental Science and Engineering

The inhibition of calcium sulfate and barium sulfate nucleation in NaCl brines by phosphonates and polycarboxylates was studied at 25 C, 50 C, 70 C, and 90 C in terms of the prolonged induction period. Hexamethylenediaminetetra(methylene phosphonic) acid (HDTMP) was found to be an effective inhibitor for the scaling of calcium sulfate. 1-hydroxyethylene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and phosphinopolycarboxylic acid (PPPC) were found to be effective inhibitors for BaSO{sub 4} scaling. The inhibition of nucleation through prolongation of the nucleation induction period resulted from an increase in the interfacial tension between the crystal and aqueous solution due to the presence of the inhibitors. It was observed that the inhibition of nucleation depends highly on the lattice cation/anion molar ratio and the pH of the solution as well as the supersaturation and temperature for a given inhibitor.

OSTI ID:
70118
Report Number(s):
CONF-940222--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English