Precipitation of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) in Water–Monoethylene Glycol Solutions

Abstract

The influence of monoethylene glycol (MEG) on the precipitation process of calcium carbonate at constant supersaturation, 25 °C, and pH 8.5 was investigated. MEG aqueous solutions supersaturated with respect to all calcium carbonate polymorphs were used since they are often encountered in oil production processes where they are used as a hydrate inhibitor. Both seeded and unseeded experiments were done in aqueous supersaturated calcium carbonate solutions containing MEG over the concentration range 0–80% v/v. The presence of MEG affected the induction times and the subsequent rates of precipitation in unseeded, spontaneous precipitation of calcium carbonate. At low values of the supersaturation ratio (SRcalcite = 77.62–15 135.61 or σcalcite = 7.81–122) and for MEG concentrations in the range 30–80% v/v, the solutions were stable for 4 days. At lower than 30% v/v MEG concentrations, calcium carbonate precipitation took place past induction periods between 160 and 500 min. The morphological examination of the precipitates showed that in the presence of low MEG concentrations (10–20% v/v) the precursor vaterite was stabilized. The homogeneous nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate in the absence and in the presence of MEG was also investigated by the inoculation of stable supersaturated solutions with quartz and calcite seed crystals. In both cases nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate was significantly reduced with increasing MEG concentration in the solutions.