The crystallization of calcium salts is of considerable importance since it is frequently encountered both in industrial and environmental precipitation processes. These calcium salts formation is favored by the decrease of their solubility with increasing temperature. The deposits reduce heat transfer effectiveness over time, leading to unacceptable heat transfer rates.In this study, the effect of biopolymers on the crystallization calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4.2H2O, gypsum) has been investigated in aqueous solution. The spontaneous precipitation technique has been used to study the influence of a biodegradable, environmentally friendly polysaccharide-based polycarboxymethyl inulin (CMI) of crystal growth of calcium sulfate dihydrate at 30�C. The results indicate that polymer concentration and the larger number of negatively charged functional groups markedly affect the duration of induction period. The fit of the Langmuir adsorption model to the experimental data supports a mechanism of inhibition through molecular adsorption of polymers on the surface of growing crystals.

Precipitation of gypsum in the presence of inulin biopolymers

244th National Meeting (2012)

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