Recent progress in green scale inhibitors for industrial water systems

Abstract

The formation of calcium carbonate scale remains a challenge across multiple industries in potable water systems, desalination, oil production, and energy generation. While conventional chemical inhibitors are widely used, they raise environmental concerns, prompting the search for sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives. This review explores recent progress in the development of green inhibitors, focusing on natural molecules, plant extracts, and bio-based compounds that offer both scale prevention and environmental compatibility through biodegradability and low toxicity.

Experimental methods such as electrochemical analysis, physicochemical characterization, and computational modeling have been employed to evaluate inhibitor performance and understand their mechanisms. Plant extracts and bio-based compounds like polyaspartic acid derivatives have shown notable potential as biodegradable alternatives. Microbial inhibitors have also emerged as innovative tools for controlling calcium carbonate precipitation.

Synergistic combinations of different green inhibitors have demonstrated enhanced effectiveness, and novel technologies such as quantum dot-based inhibitors from agricultural waste and nanoparticle-functionalized antiscalants offer promising avenues for real-time monitoring and targeted scale inhibition. This real-time monitoring capability is attributed to the fluorescence quenching effect that occurs upon the adsorption of quantum dot-based inhibitors onto growing scale crystals.

Industrial implementation of these green solutions provides a sustainable alternative to traditional treatments, particularly in cooling systems, desalination, and oilfield applications. However, challenges remain, including performance optimization under variable conditions, long-term stability, and cost-effectiveness for large-scale use. Continued integration of experimental and computational strategies is essential for advancing the next generation of environmentally friendly scale inhibitors. With ongoing research and technological innovation, green inhibitors have the potential to significantly improve scale prevention strategies and support more sustainable industrial operations.