The Summary of the Polymer Scale Inhibitors and Related Patents

Scale deposition is a difficulty encountered with water containing ions of sparingly soluble salts. A widely used technique for controlling scale deposition is by dosage of an antiscalant. Large quantities of polymeric scale inhibitors are used for scale control in cooling water systems, water desalination processes and oil field operations. This paper summarizes kinds of scale inhibitors, such as natural polymer inhibitors, carboxylic acid polymer scale inhibitor, sulfonic acid polymer scale inhibitor, phosphorus-containing polymer scale inhibitor, environmental-friendly scale inhibitor and reviewed patents on scale inhibition technology. Environmental-friendly scale inhibitor is not only the most promising green scale inhibitors, but also the main goal of future research and development.