ACUMER 1000, Acumer 1100, Acumer 2000, Acumer 3100, and Acumer 5000 polymers are highly effective scale inhibitors that can be used in industrial water treatment and oil production applications to inhibit the deposition of calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, and other low-solubility salts on surfaces.
ACUMER 1000, 1100, 2000, 3100, and 5000 polymers are a series of Low Molecular Weight (LMW) Polyacrylic Acids and their corresponding sodium salts.
Acumer products have weight average molecular weights of approximately 2000 and 4500.
ACUMER polymers contain no phosphorus, making their use acceptable where legislation requires thatdischarge waters contain low or no phosphorus.
ACUMER 1000, Acumer 1100, Acumer 2000, Acumer 3100, and Acumer 5000 polymers are highly effective scale inhibitors that can be used in industrial water treatment and oil production applications to inhibit the deposition of calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, and other low-solubility salts on surfaces. These polymers show good activity over a wide range of pH, water hardness, and temperature conditions.
The choice among the members of the series depends on the application, formulation, use conditions, and required performance characteristics.
Acumer products show excellent freeze-thaw stability
Applications ACUMER polymers can be used to inhibit scale buildup on surfaces through at least three mechanisms:
• Solubility enhancement or threshold effect, which reduces precipitation of low solubility inorganic salts.
• Crystal modification, which deforms the growing inorganic salt crystal to give tiny, irregular, readily fractured crystals that do not adhere well to surfaces.
• Dispersing activity, which prevents precipitated crystals or other inorganic particulates from agglomerating and depositing on surfaces.
Low molecular weight polyacrylic acids are widely used to inhibit scaling in industrial water treatment and oil production applications.
The activity of the ACUMER polymers in cooling tower, boiler, and oil field applications is illustrated by the following data.
ACUMER 1000, Acumer 1100, Acumer 2000, Acumer 3100, and Acumer 5000 polyacrylate water-soluble scale inhibitors can help prevent the formation of scale in recirculating cooling systems, boilers, and evaporators.
ACUMER 1000, Acumer 1100, Acumer 2000, Acumer 3100, and Acumer 5000 polymers can keep salts dispersed to prevent deposition and modify the structure to make the scale less tenacious and durable.
ACUMER products are effective on particulate matter containing calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, silica, silicate, silt, and iron, reducing their adhesion to heat transfer surfaces.
Acumer prevents the precipitation of salts, and other particles can accumulate on equipment surfaces, resulting in reduced heat transfer efficiency and higher operation and maintenance costs.
Acumer is applied for Scale control for cooling and boiler systems.
Acumer Polymeric scale inhibitors are widely used in the oil and gas field because of their enhanced thermal stability and better environmental compatibility.
Acumer Scale inhibitors are chemicals that delay or prevent scale formation when added in small concentrations in water that would typically create scale deposits.
The use of the Acumer series is attractive because a very low dosage (several ppm) can be sufficient to prevent scale for extended periods for either surface or downhole treatments.
Acumer Scale inhibitors may adsorb onto the surface of the scale crystals just as they start to form.
Acumer inhibitors are large molecules that can envelop these microcrystals and hinder further growth.
This is considered to be the primary mechanism of Acumer Polymers.
Acumer Antiscalants prevent mineral scaling by getting absorbed on the scale, forming salt crystals, thereby preventing the attraction of the supersaturated salt to the crystal surfaces.
Since Acumer inhibits the growth of crystal, it does not grow to a size or a concentration large enough to precipitate out of the suspension.
Acumer inhibitors are also dispersants that keep the precipitates suspended in solution.
Although Acumer antiscalants are very effective in preventing carbonate and sulphate scaling of membranes, they do not prevent scaling from occurring; rather they delay the formation of large crystals that form scales.
Acumer Chemical Nature MW
ACUMER 1000 Acrylic homopolymer 2,000
ACUMER 1050 Acrylic homopolymer 2,150
ACUMER 1100 Acrylic homopolymer 4,500
ACUMER 1850 Carboxylic homopolymer 30,000
ACUMER 2000 Carboxylic sulfonated copolymer 4,500
ACUMER 2100 Carboxylic sulfonated copolymer 11,000
ACUMER 3100 Carboxylic sulfonated nonionic terpolymer 4,500
ACUMER 4161 Phosphino polycarboxylic acid 3,600
ACUMER 4300 Maleic multipolymer 2,000
ACUMER 5000 Carboxylic multipolymer 5,000
Acumer 1000
ACUMER 1000 is a general-purpose water treatment scale inhibitor to effectively inhibits the precipitation of calcium carbonate, calcium oxalate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, and other low-solubility salts.
Acumer 1050
ACUMER 1050 is a low molecular weight polyacrylic acid polymer for use as a high-performance scale inhibitor during sugar processing and has FDA clearance for food contact use.
Acumer 1100
ACUMER 1100 is low molecular weight polyacrylate for general-purpose scale inhibition within water systems, providing exceptional efficiency at a low dosage over a wide range of pH, water hardness, and temperature conditions.
Acumer 1850
ACUMER 1850 is a low molecular weight polycarboxylate for general-purpose scale inhibition within water systems.
ACUMER 1850 is thermally very stable and is highly effective as a sludge dispersant and scale control polymer in boilers.
Acumer 2000
ACUMER 2000 is an excellent phosphate and zinc stabilizer and dispersant of inorganic particulates for anti-scale/anti-corrosion cooling water treatment formulations.
Acumer 2100
ACUMER 2100 is a copolymer that functions as a scale inhibitor and dispersant by combining strong acid (sulfonate) and weak acid (carboxylate) that provide optimal anti-scale/dispersant efficiency.
Acumer 3100
ACUMER 3100 is a superior phosphate and zinc stabilizer in stressed cooling water systems and an excellent iron and sludge dispersant in boilers.
Acumer 4161
ACUMER 4161 is a phosphinopolycarboxylic acid scale inhibitor and dispersant that has a unique balance of threshold inhibition and dispersancy and is resistant to chlorine, and compatible with most microbiological control agents.
Acumer 4300
ACUMER 4300 is a high-performance scale inhibitor specifically developed to prevent calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate salt deposits in water systems.
ACUMER 4300's unique feature is the improved overall performance inhibiting these calcium scales over conventional polymaleic acids, acrylate polymers, and phosphonates.
Acumer 5000
ACUMER 5000 is a superior scale inhibitor and dispersant for silica and magnesium silicate in recirculating cooling circuits and boilers.
ACUMER 5000 prevents the formation of deposits on heat transfer surfaces.
NSF/ANSI/CAN 60
Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals - Health Effects
Miscellaneous Treatment Chemical
Trade Designation Product Function Max Use
ACUMER 4035 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 28mg/L
ACUMER 5430 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
ACUMER 5430 Polymer Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Acumer 6600 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Acumer 1000 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 28mg/L
Acumer 1035 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 28mg/L
TAMOL 731A Dispersant Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Miscellaneous Water Supply Products
Trade Designation Product Function Max Use
ACUMER 2000 Polymer Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 11mg/L
ACUMER 2100 Polymer Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 7mg/L
ACUMER 3100 Polymer Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant
Distillation Antiscalant 15mg/L
ACUMER 5000 Polymer Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant
Distillation Antiscalant 15mg/L
Miscellaneous Treatment Chemical
Trade Designation Product Function Max Use
ACUMER 2100 Polymer Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Miscellaneous Treatment Chemical
Trade Designation Product Function Max Use
ACUMER 1035 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 28mg/L
ACUMER 4035 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 28mg/L
ACUMER 5430 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
ACUMER 5430 Polymer Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Acumer 1000 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Acumer 1100 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Acumer 2200 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Acumer 4800 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Miscellaneous Water Supply Products
Trade Designation Product Function Max Use
ACUMER 5000 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
ACUMER 5000 Polymer Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Acumer 2000 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Acumer 2100 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Acumer 3100 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
Acumer 4450 Distillation Antiscalant
Reverse Osmosis Antiscalant 15mg/L
ACUMER 1000, 1020, 1100, and 1110 Scale Inhibitors
Scale Inhibition at Heat Transfer Surfaces
In evaluating scale inhibition at heat transfer surfaces, the ACUMER™ polymers were used alone under stressed conditions.
Their relative effectiveness may change in formulated water treatment systems or under less stressed conditions.
1. Laboratory Test on Immersion Heater (Table 4, Figures 4 and 5)
Test water was recirculated past an immersion heater and over baffles exposed to upward airflow; Table 4 lists the test parameters.
During the 3-hour run, the calcium ions remaining in the solution as evaporation proceeded and the rate of heat transfer (time the heater was on) were monitored.
The amount of scale deposited on the heater at the end of the test was also measured.
ACUMER 1000/ACUMER 1020 (Mw 2000) were the most effective under these conditions by all three measurements of scaling tendency.
The highest molecular weight analogs ACUMER 1100/ACUMER 1110 (Mw 4500) and a competitive sodium polyacrylate (Mw 2800) were less effective
The relative performance of the ACUMER™ polymers was evaluated in simulated cooling tower devices under stressed conditions.
Water containing 625 mg/l hardness (as CaCO3) and 150 mg/l alkalinity was circulated past a copper heat transfer coupon at
0.4 to 2 ft./sec. in an apparatus designed to give a range of flow rates over a single heat
transfer surface; Table 5 lists the test parameters. Heat transfer coefficients were
monitored daily for 5 days; the polymer levels were 2.5, 7.5, and 15 ppm. Table 6 lists
the average retained heat transfer coefficient at each polymer concentration. Like the
immersion heater study, ACUMER 1000/ACUMER 1020 were the most effective
polymers in maintaining a constant, high heat transfer coefficient and
ACUMER 1100/ACUMER 1110 were almost as good.
Most oil-field waters are brines, containing large amounts of divalent cations, which commonly form mineral scales. Scale can be encountered on the formation face, in the production tubing, on surface vessels, injection pumps, lines, etc.
The scales of greatest concern in oil production are calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, and barium sulfate.
Laboratory screening tests are useful for comparing the effectiveness of inhibitor candidates.
Details of the test procedures are given in the Appendix.
1. Inhibitor of CaSO4 Precipitation (Figure 7)
ACUMER™ polymers are all highly effective inhibitors of CaSO4 precipitation. Virtually
complete inhibition is achieved with 0.5 ppm polymer under the NACE test conditions.
No significant difference in activity among the polymers in the ACUMER series is noted
during this test.
2. Inhibition of CaCO3 Precipitation (Figure 8)
ACUMER 1100/ACUMER 1110 (M� R
w 4500) and ACUMER 1000/ACUMER 1020
polymers (M� R
w 2000) are equally effective inhibitors of CaCO3 precipitation.
Inhibition by Blends of ACUMER™ Polymers and Phosphonates (Figure 9)
In some instances, blends of phosphonates or phosphate esters with ACUMER
polymers are better anti-precipitants than either alone. Figure 9 demonstrates the
synergistic behavior of ACUMER 1100/ACUMER 1110 and phosphonate for calcium
carbonate inhibition; the dotted lines plot the additive effects and the solid lines the
actual effects of the blends.
4. Inhibition of BaSO4 Precipitation (Figure 10)
BaSO4 scale is particularly difficult to remove and consequently prevention is critically
important, especially in off-shore oil wells and papermaking applications.
ACUMER 1000/ACUMER 1020 polymers (Mw 2000) are particularly effective in a typical 16-hour duration test and show more efficient inhibition than ACUMER 1100/
ACUMER 1110 (Mw 4500) polymers.
ACUMER 1000/ACUMER 1020 polymers also show better inhibiting activity than a competitive sodium polyacrylate, a phosphonate, or a phosphate ester.
If longer times (64 hours) are allowed for precipitation, ACUMER 1100/ACUMER 1110
(Mw 4500) are more effective than ACUMER 1000/ACUMER 1020 (Mw 2000).
5. Overall Anti-Precipitation Performance
The actual choice between the two molecular weight polymers depends on the test conditions, although generally ACUMER 1000/ACUMER 1020 (Mw 2000) are the most
effective polymers. At high Ca+2 concentration and high temperature,ACUMER 1000/ACUMER 1020 would be expected to perform better than ACUMER 1100/ ACUMER 1110 considering the comparative solubilities versus Ca+2
concentration and temperature in Figure 3.
ACUMER™ 1000, 1020, 1100, and 1110 Scale Inhibitors
Anti-Precipitation
Activity (Con’t)
MODIFICATION OF CaSO4 AND CaCO3 CRYSTALS (Figures 11 and 12)
The photomicrographs in Figures 11 and 12 show the dramatic crystal distortion effects of
ACUMER 1000/ ACUMER 1020 and ACUMER 1100/ACUMER 1110 on CaSO4 and
CaCO3. The normally long and regular CaSO4 crystals are fractured and distorted when
formed in the presence of ACUMER 1000/ACUMER 1020 polymers. CaCO3 crystals are
normally large and well formed, but are smaller and more irregular when formed in the
presence of ACUMER 1100/ACUMER 1110.
Polymer Stability
at High
Temperature
ACUMER™ polymers 1000, 1020, 1100 and 1110 are very stable at high pressures and
temperatures typical of boilers up to at least 1200 psig/298°C. The chart below contains
data on the hydrothermal stability of ACUMER 1000.