Elucidation of dual-mode inhibition mechanism of a typical polymer-based antiscalant on Red seawater for thermal desalination at higher temperatures and higher concentration factors

Scale deposition in the thermal process for desalination is quite inevitable. This study is about scale formation, crystal modification, and prevention mechanism of a tetrapolymer based antiscalant on Red Seawater. Red seawater at concentration factors (CF) of 1.5 and 2.5 was studied under reflux condition at 70 °C and 98 °C respectively for seven hours with 1 ppm, 2 ppm, and 4 ppm concentration of the antiscalant. Eventually, the mechanism of inhibitory action of the antiscalant has been reconnoitered after seawater analysis and imaging the morphological changes in the crystal formation patterns with Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The changes in the values of pH, turbidity and alkalinity (both phenolphthalein alkalinity (PA) and total alkalinity (TA)) were measured to apprehend various fluctuations happening as a result of the addition of antiscalant. The variations in the pH of seawater with antiscalant were in concurrence with the changes in alkalinity and was also reflected in turbidity. These changes explicitly demonstrated the threshold mechanism of scale inhibition. SEM micrographs exhibited distorted round shaped depositions supporting crystal modification mechanism as well. The efficiency and dominance of inhibitory mechanism varied from 2 h to 6 h for the antiscalant and was observed to be directly related to CF of seawater used, the temperature applied, and a dose of antiscalant added.