COATEX EM 201 ASP

Anti-scaling Agent for Reverse Osmosis Units

COATEX EM 201 ASP is a liquid polymer specifically designed to prevent mineral scale formation in reverse osmosis units. These systems are used for water purification, using multiple types of water such as brines, sea water and mineral loaded water. Its molecular weight distribution has been carefully engineered to insure a maximum of efficiency in this specific application. The remarkable property of this polymer is its ability to perform well below stoichiometric quantities by threshold effect, which allow uses between 0.5 and 10 ppm depending on the salinity of the water. The presence of the polymer will inhibit the formation of highly structured crystals that are responsible for the scaling commonly encountered in these units. In the presence of minute amounts of COATEX EM 201 ASP, the minerals will crystallise in small irregularly shaped portions that disperse well and tend to redissolve easily. Furthermore, COATEX EM 201 ASP will inhibit bacteriological growth, thus eliminating fouling due to slime accumulation.

Characteristics *
Nature: Appearance (20c): Solids content : pH : Specific gravity : Solubility : Purity : Polycarboxylic polymer in aqueous solution Pale amber, clear liquid 35 1% 3.5 1 1.140 0.01 (20C) Fully soluble in water The high purity of COATEX EM 201 ASP insures a non reactivity with membranes and allows overdosing without any damage to the RO units as proven in field tests.

* These characteristics are not specifications.

Advantages
- Field and laboratory tests have proven the effectiveness of COATEX EM 201 ASP at very low levels (even below 1 ppm). - The use of COATEX EM 201 ASP will increase the yield (permeate/feed water) of the reverse osmosis units (up to 80%). - COATEX EM 201 ASP is non polluting and non toxic. - It will prevent membrane fouling and biomass growth in the dilution tanks (Slime suppression). - Its composition makes it inert toward membranes and thus perfectly safe to use in all kinds of processes. - By allowing stable operations, COATEX EM 201 ASP will dramatically reduce maintenance shutdown and thus increase profitability of the entire operation. COATEX EM 201 ASP 1/4

- By eliminating the use of strong acidic solution for membranes cleaning, COATEX EM 201 ASP will noticeably increase the life of RO units as well as eliminate the hazards inherent to sulphuric acid handling. - Its low viscosity will authorise a use without dilution and no special need for an exotic metering pump. - If dilution is wanted, no micro-organism will develop in normal conditions. - COATEX EM 201 ASP stability is not affected by temperature or dilution. If temperature was to drop below -5C, the product could crystallise in its commercial form but would return to its normal aspect upon warming. - COATEX EM 201 ASP does not contain strong acids and thus will not cause corrosion, thereby extending the life of RO units. - COATEX EM 201 ASP does not contain phosphates and is not polluting, which will be favourably looked at by Water Agencies. - It will prevent Calcium and Barium Sulphates scaling while acidic treatment will not. - COATEX EM 201 ASP will inhibit phosphate scale while acidic treatment is inefficient in this case.

Exemple

For example, the use of COATEX EM 201 ASP on a RO unit operating at 60 bars (860 P.S.I.), with a brine containing 23 grams per litre of salt, has enabled to reach a yield of 80% (concentration ratio = 3). In the same conditions, a conventional treatment gave a yield of 35% (concentration ratio = 1.25). With sea water feed, typical yields of 50% can be achieved. Thus, for the same permeate flow rate, the cost of pre-treatment can be significantly reduced with the use of COATEX EM 201 ASP.

Antiscaling properties
Antiscaling efficiency of the COATEX EM 201 ASP with different minerals

The efficiency of COATEX EM 201 ASP has been measured with different methods, all based on the loss of soluble cations after heating or concentration of a clear solution. A solution of minerals is prepared and is either concentrated by ebullition or simply heated. Under these conditions, a mineral scale is formed after a certain time. The liquid is then filtrated and the remaining cations are measured by the appropriate analytical method. Two trials are made, one with COATEX EM 201 ASP as an adjuvant, and the other without adjuvant.

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E M 2 0 1 A S P

E M 2 0 1 A S P

E M 2 0 1 A S P

E M 2 0 1 A S P

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B L A N K

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Calcium Carbonate inhibition with 5 ppm of polymer

Barium Sulfate inhibition with 4 ppm of polymer

Calcium Oxalate inhibition with 9 ppm of polymer

Calcium Sulfate inhibition with 2 ppm of polymer

Used at a low level (1 to 10 ppm), COATEX EM 201 ASP avoids scale deposition on membranes with minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium, Strontium, Barium and Iron salts (as carbonates, sulfates, phosphates). COATEX EM 201 ASP 2/4

The use of COATEX EM 201 ASP prevents the precipitation of supersaturated minerals like Calcium carbonates or sulfates which could occur when operating at high concentration ratio of feed water (as in brine or sea water). A field test performed with decreasing amounts of COATEX EM 201 ASP has been used to estimate the optimum dosage. This test has been run on two parallel units, with and without product. After 12 days, the untreated unit has been stopped for cleaning due to a serious decrease in flow. The efficiency of the treated unit has remained constant down to 5 ppm of product. A slight decrease of recovery has been noticed at 1.25 ppm and 0.5 ppm have been found to be insufficient. Overdosage is shown to have no influence on the efficiency of the RO unit.

The wide range of effectiveness of COATEX EM 201 ASP is a definite advantage when overdosage may occur or when the quality of the feeding water cannot be controlled.

Recovery per ppm = f(ppm)

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

This curve gives the optimum dosage for Dosage (ppm) Recovery/dosage in ppm.

COATEX

EM

201

ASP

by

the

ratio

As shown, one can use between 1 to 5 ppm to get the best economics. The optimum is located at 0.8 ppm; however, below this level, the recovery diminishes rapidly.

COATEX EM 201 ASP

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Comparison of another commercially available polymer with COATEX EM 201 ASP

0 -10 -20 -30 -40 -50 -60 -70
L

2.6 ppm of COATEX EM 201 ASP 8 ppm of COATEX EM 201 ASP 8 ppm of another commercially available polymer

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Time of operation in hours

Handling and Storage

COATEX EM 201 ASP has a very low viscosity and is therefore easily pumped and added directly to the feed water with any kind of pump. Nevertheless, one can dilute it up to seven folds (one part of COATEX EM 201 ASP for 6 parts of water) to facilitate its metering. Even at this dilution, bacteria, fungi or yeast development will not occur, even for a long time or at tropical temperatures. The constituents of COATEX EM 201 ASP do not pass through the membrane. Furthermore, they have been carefully selected and an accidental passage in the permeate would be innocuous. The acute oral toxicity, tested on rats gives a zero mortality rate for amounts equal or superior to 2 000 mg/kg. Transport labelling is not necessary. Additional safety information may be obtained by reading the Material Safety Data Sheet. The efficiency of COATEX EM 201 ASP has been checked by the Commissariat lnergie atomique franais in its pilot plant in Toulon, France and by the Roswell Test Facility in Roswell NM, USA.

Standard Packaging
The product COATEX EM 201 ASP is available in: - 220 liter drums. - 1 000 liter containers. - Packaging with customer-designed labels.
The information contained in this data-sheet is the result of our study and experience. It is offered in good faith but cannot be, in any way, a guarantee, and no liability is assumed (17/12/02).

COATEX EM 201 ASP

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35, rue Ampre - BP 8 - ZI Lyon-Nord - 69727 GENAY Cedex - FRANCE Tel. +33 (0)4 72 08 20 00 - Fax +33 (0)4 72 08 20 40

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