Synthesis of glutamic-modified polyether copolymer as a novel non-phosphorous inhibitor for calcium carbonate scales in cooling water systems

A novel non-phosphorous copolymer acrylic acid-allyloxy polyethoxy glutamate (AA-APEU) had been synthesized and developed as an efficient calcium carbonate scale inhibitor for cooling water systems. The structure of the new copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra and 1H NMR. The inhibition property of the non-phosphorous copolymer toward CaCO3 in the artificial cooling water was studied through static scale inhibition tests. It was found that AA-APEU exhibited excellent ability to control calcium carbonate scale, with approximately 71.8% calcium carbonate inhibition at a level of 8 mg/L. The micromorphology and crystal of calcium particles were investigated with a combination of scanning electronic microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analysis, respectively.