Is there any way to remove the effect of scale inhibitors from the raw salt?
Thread Content
In the raw salt, the manufacturer added scale inhibitors, which results in the calcium and magnesium ions in the produced brine not combining sufficiently with the refining agents. Is there any way to eliminate the effect of these scale inhibitors? Attempts were made to increase the amount of the refining agent, but the effect was not significant. Since it is not possible to determine the exact amount of scale remover added, there is uncertainty regarding whether the calcium and magnesium levels in the primary brine will exceed the specified limits; this situation also leads to an increase in the amount of material used during the refinement of the secondary brine.
It is currently not possible to completely remove the added descaling agent. Increasing the amount of the refining agent had no significant effect, indicating that the scale remover interfered with the refining process. It is recommended to try the following methods: 1. **Change the supplier of raw salt:** Look for raw salt that does not contain descaling agents. This is the most effective solution. 2. **Improving the refining process:** Research more effective refining methods, such as adjusting the types of refining agents, the order in which they are added, as well as the reaction time and temperature, in order to minimize the impact of scale removers. This requires experimentation and optimization. 3. **Brine pretreatment:** Pretreat the brine before refinement, such as through filtration or sedimentation, in an attempt to remove some of the scale inhibitors or their effects. 4. **Multi-stage refinement:** Increasing the number of refinement stages allows for the gradual removal of impurities, thereby reducing the load per refinement step. 5. **Analyze the type of descaling agent:** Knowing the type of descaling agent used allows for the selection of appropriate refining agents or pretreatment methods. In short, to resolve the problem completely, it’s best to address it at its source; changing suppliers is the most direct and effective approach. Other methods require more experiments and optimization to find the most suitable solution. .
When purchasing raw salt, simply ask the supplier not to add descaling agents to it. For such bulk chemical raw materials, the two parties can completely determine the quantity of goods to be purchased through an agreement. However, the buyer must bear the oxygen enrichment cost, that is, the cost incurred as a result of the normal operation of the process by the supplier without the use of descaling agents.
This means that scale inhibitors are difficult to remove through simple operations or the addition of reagents in subsequent production processes. If it’s so common for manufacturers to add scale inhibitors, it seems that few of them report issues with excessive calcium levels in the brine :(
Chelating resin ion exchange adsorption method: Chelating resins are commonly used in industry for the secondary purification of brine. Chelating resins possess special chelating capabilities; they can adsorb metal ions and form ring structures, thereby effectively removing calcium and magnesium ions from saline water. It is possible to consider using chelating resins for further treatment after a single saltwater purification step, in order to remove residual calcium and magnesium ions as well as the effects of scale inhibitors. Membrane separation technology: Membrane separation techniques such as nanofiltration and reverse osmosis can also be used in the purification of saline water. These technologies can selectively remove ions and impurities from saline water, including residues of scale inhibitors.