Inhibition of calcium carbonate fouling on heat transfer surface using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose

Abstract

Inhibition of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) fouling using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC) was investigated in this study, focusing on the effect of the SCMC concentration on the fouling characteristics of CaCO3 on the stainless steel surface. The fouling characteristics were investigated via pH displacement method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and dynamic experiment analysis. The experimental results indicated that these three methods provided a consistent conclusion: SCMC exhibited a promising performance of fouling inhibition, and the inhibition efficiency and induction period of CaCO3 fouling increased with increasing SCMC concentration ranging from 50 to 200 mg L−1. The inhibition efficiency reached 93.2% for SCMC concentration of 200 mg L−1. Scanning electron microscopy images of CaCO3 fouling changed from irregular slender needles and clusters to small chips with the addition of SCMC. Moreover, a protective film was formed on the stainless steel surface by adsorption of the constituent of SCMC in the presence of SCMC, directly preventing the deposition of CaCO3 fouling on stainless steel surface.