Best Practices for Deposit Control in RO Seawater Desalination

Paper presents technologies used to chemically treat RO systems and prevent scaling. Topics include methods to remove suspended solids and colloidal material, control methods to prevent biofouling and scaling by sparingly soluble
salts. Discussion includes theory, thermodynamics and kinetics of
crystallization of typical scale forming salts, such as calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, silica, and barium sulfate, as well as the mechanisms of nucleation and crystal growth inhibition, the effect of ionic strength on kinetics and
inhibitor efficacy. Case studies and economics are included.