Research on the synthesis and scale inhibition performance of a new terpolymer scale inhibitor

A new terpolymer named beta-CD-MA-SSS was produced using free-radical polymerization of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), maleic-anhydride (MA) and sodium-styrene-sulfonate (SSS) as monomers, with potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator. Its performance as a scale inhibitor to prevent deposition of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) has been investigated. Experimental results demonstrated that beta-CD-MA-SSS performed excellent scale inhibition and exhibited a high conversion rate under the following conditions: initiator consisting of 6%, molar ratio of reaction monomers SSS: MA = 0.8:1, MA:beta-CD = 6:1, reaction temperature of 80 W degrees C, reaction time of 6 h, and dropping time of 40 min when MA was dosed as a substrate, and SSS and KPS were dosed as dropping reactants simultaneously. Use of a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for this inhibitor showed that the polymerization reaction had taken place with the reaction monomers under the above specified conditions. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that the beta-CD-MA-SSS had a strong chelating ability for calcium (Ca2+) and a good dispersion ability for calcium carbonate (CaCO3).