Calcite scale inhibitors for stressed process conditions

Abstract

A scale inhibitor composition for reducing calcium scale under stressed conditions is disclosed. The composition comprises a combination of scale inhibiting components, including an acrylic acid polymer and a chelant. The acrylic acid polymer is provided as an aqueous polymerization reaction product of an acrylic acid and a chain transfer agent, with the acrylic acid polymer having a weight averaged molecular weight (Mw) of from about 1,300 to about 15,000 Daltons. A method of preparing the scale inhibitor composition is also disclosed, and comprises reacting the acrylic acid and the chain transfer agent to give the reaction product comprising the acrylic acid polymer, and combining the reaction product with the chelant. A process for ameliorating calcite scale in a mining operation is further disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.