Investigation of a novel environmentally friendly inhibitor for calcium carbonate scaling in cooling water

Abstract

The antiscale properties of palm leaves extract (Phoenix dactylifer L) were studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry techniques, in addition to microscopic examination. Calcium carbonate scales were deposited from the brine solution by cathodic polarization of the steel surface at −0.9 V (vs. SCE). Chronoamperometry curves and EIS measurements displayed that palm leaves extract increased the time of CaCO₃ nuclei formation and consequently, retarded the growth step. The optical micrographs of the steel electrode clarified that the surface area occupied by the scale particles decreased with increasing plant extract concentrations. The results showed that palm leaves extract could be considered as efficient inhibitor for CaCO₃ precipitation.

Keywords:

• Green antiscalant
• Palm leaves
• EIS
• Chronoamperometry