In the present work we present experimental and computational results on the efficacy of two simple polymers, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on silica scale inhibition. The aim of this study is to compare the experimental and computational approaches, in order to explain why PEG is an effective silica inhibitor, while PVA is not. Based on the computational studies, PVA prefers to form interactions between the polymeric chains and not between the polymeric chains and the silicic acid molecules. In contrast, PEG does induce stabilizing interactions between the polymeric chains and the silicic acid molecules. These computational predictions are confirmed by experimental scale inhibition studies, which prove indeed that PEG is an efficient silica scale inhibitor, whereas PVA is not.

Subject
Acids, Acid inhibitors, Water, Inhibitor performance, Modeling, Solubility, Dosages, Aqueous solutions, Silica, Polymers, Chemical inhibition, Corrosion inhibitors, Hydrogen
Keywords:
silicic acid, inhibition, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polycondensation
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2022
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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