Silica inhibitors for silica inhibition and dispersion

Abstract

A silica inhibitor is disclosed for inhibiting silica scale formation and dispersing silica. In one aspect, a method for reducing silica levels in an aqueous system involves obtaining a silica inhibitor with a branched polyethylenimine and treating the aqueous system with the silica inhibitor. In another aspect, a method for preparing a silica inhibitor involves obtaining a branched polyethylenimine and protonating the branched polyethylenimine to attain a charged inhibitor with a high-density cationic state. In yet another aspect, a silica inhibitor includes a branched polyethylenimine, a phosphonate, and optionally one or more of a linear polymer based on polyvinyl alcohol, a linear polymer based on polyacrylic acid, and an architectured material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.