The effectiveness of some crystallization inhibitors in preventing salt damage to limestone

•The ATMP (0.01 M) inhibitor increased the pace of saline solution transportation.•The CA 0.01 M inhibitor had a high rate of saline solution transportation.•The inhibitors working in specialized way.•Polyphosphonates (ATMP) were more effective in inhabitation of sodium sulphate salt.•Low concentrations (ppm) additives either inhibit or promote salt crystallization. The present paper studied the effectiveness of some crystallization inhibitors as a preventive method to limestone from salt damage. Amino trimethylene phosphonic acid (ATMP), polyacrylic acid (PA), and citric acid (CA) were evaluated as inhibitors against sodium sulfate and sodium chloride salts crystallizations into limestone (micrite). The modifiers that influenced the transport of Na2SO4 and NaCl solutions inside the limestone samples were evaluated by recording the changes with photography and daily report. USB-Digital microscope, scanning electron microscope SEM coupled with a microanalysis energy dispersive system (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and weight loss data were used to evaluate the efficiency of these inhibitors. The results revealed that the effectiveness of inhibitors of concentration 0.01 M was better than 0.05 M. 0.01 M polyacrylic acid and 0.05 M amino trimethylene phosphonic acid changed the sodium sulfate crystal habit. Only 0.05 M of polyacrylic transformed halite crystals from cube to octahedron, dodecahedron, and tetrahexahdron. The best inhibitors for salt crystallization and mitigates damages to limestone are polyphosphonate and polyacrylate for sodium sulfate salt and polyacrylic for sodium chloride salt.