Abstract

Despite the available long-term experience in the practical application of antiscalants for preventing the depositions on membranes during the reverse osmosis of sparingly soluble inorganic compounds of generally crystalline nature (scaling, inorganic fouling), the studies on the antiscaling mechanism, the development of express methods for estimating the optimal dose of antiscalants, and the creation of new efficient and environmentally friendly reagents still remain relevant. In this paper, the contemporary scientific studies concerning the mechanism of the action of scaling inhibitors and the topical problems of their practical application in reverse osmosis process are analyzed. The key role of the selective sorption of antiscalants on the surface of the particles of formed sparingly soluble compounds in their inhibiting efficiency at substoichiometric doses is described as exhibited in the change in nucleation and crystal growth kinetics, the morphological and structural transformation of crystals, and the change in the capability of particles for agglomeration and interaction with the surface of membranes. The relevance of the development of new efficient, non-toxic, non-bioaccumulated, and biodegradable antiscalants for avoiding the environmental risks upon the discharge of concentrates into the environment is shown, and the currently most promising types of “green” scaling inhibitors are considered. The results of studying the action of both traditional and “green” antiscalants by modern methods of analysis (scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, fluorescent tagging) are given to confirm the “threshold effect” and the crystal deformation and dispersion effects in the process of scaling inhibition. The priority problems of fundamental and applied studies for improving the efficiency and environmental friendliness of the application of antiscalants in reverse osmosis processes are specified.

中文翻译：

---

反渗透过程中的阻垢剂：阻垢机理及现代应用问题

摘要

尽管在实际使用抗垢剂方面有长期的经验，可以防止一般晶体性质的难溶性无机化合物（结垢，无机污垢）在反渗透过程中防止膜上的沉积，但对结垢机理的研究，估计抗垢剂最佳剂量的方法，以及创造新型高效和环保试剂仍然很重要。本文分析了有关阻垢剂作用机理的现代科学研究及其在反渗透过程中实际应用的热点问题。在成核和晶体生长动力学的变化，晶体的形态和结构变化以及晶体的形貌变化中表现出，在形成的难溶化合物的表面上选择性吸附抗垢剂的关键作用在于其在亚化学计量剂量下的抑制效率。颗粒的团聚能力以及与膜表面相互作用的能力的变化。显示了开发新型高效，无毒，无生物蓄积性和可生物降解的防垢剂与避免浓缩物排放到环境中的环境风险的相关性，并考虑了目前最有希望的“绿色”防垢剂类型。通过现代分析方法（扫描电子显微镜，X射线衍射，动态光散射，荧光标记）研究传统和“绿色”防垢剂的作用的结果被给出，以确认“阈值效应”以及晶体变形和阻垢过程中的分散效应。指出了在反渗透过程中提高阻垢剂使用效率和环境友好性的基础研究和应用研究的优先问题。