Ionic Liquids as Greener Substitutes for Industrial Scale Inhibition Application-A Perspective - Abstract
Setting and growth of inorganic scales are major problem in cooling water systems and petroleum-based industries that unfavorably affect the plant transport efficiency, fluid flow rate and lifespan of the metallic equipments. Calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, bicarbonates of sodium, magnesium and calcium with their sulfate, chlorides and nitrates causes inorganic scale problem in cooling water systems. On the other hands, scaling problem in petroleum industries is due to calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, strontium sulfate and iron sulfide etc. Maleic acid-based polymers and organic phosphonates are used as most effective inorganic scale inhibitors in cooling water systems (CWSs; such as boiler industries) and petroleum industries. However, these inorganic scale inhibitors are highly toxic in nature thereby environmentally friendly alternative scale inhibitors are being developed and used. One of such green alternatives is Carboxymethyl Inulin (CMI). Ionic liquids can also be used as environmentally friendly alternative inorganic scale inhibitors. Use of the ionic liquids as inorganic scale inhibitors would be advantageous as due to increasing demands of green scale inhibitors. Present perspective describes the idea about using ionic liquids as green inorganic scale inhibitors in cooling water system and petroleum industries.