Gypsum Scale Formation on Heat Exchanger Surfaces: The Influence of Natural and Synthetic Polyelectrolytes

Abstract

Abstract The precipitation and deposition of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) on brass heat exchanger surfaces from aqueous solutions has been studied using a highly reproducible technique. It has been found that gypsum scale formation takes place directly on the surface of the heat exchanger without any bulk or spontaneous precipitation in the reaction cell. A variety of natural and synthetic polyelctrolytes such as fulvic acid, tannic acid, poly-(acrylic acid) and acrylic acid — based copolymers containing sulfonic group(s) have been examined for their effects on the rate of scale formation. The results indicate that the amount of gypsum scale formed on heat exchanger surface is strongly affected by polyelectrolyte architecture and concentration of polyelectrolyte. Scanning electron microscopic investigations of gypsum crystals grown in the presence of polyelectrolytes (natural and synthetic) show that structures of these crystals are highly modified.