Water treatment
Antiscalants — Scale Inhibitors for Cooling Towers, Boilers & RO Circuits
FOB Black Sea / MENA · CFR/CIF worldwide on request
Indicative price
USD 410–500 / MT
Indicative range, firm quote on request
Key parameters
Full product details
Product overview
Antiscalants are specialty water-treatment chemicals that delay or prevent mineral scale deposition on heat-transfer surfaces, membrane elements and pipeline walls. Hardness ions — calcium, magnesium, iron and silica — precipitate as carbonate, sulphate, phosphate and silicate deposits when concentration cycles raise saturation indices above equilibrium. Phosphonate sequestrants (HEDP, ATMP, PBTC) and acrylic or maleic copolymer dispersants interrupt crystal growth and keep fines suspended in blowdown, extending run lengths between acid cleanings.
Our export grade is a liquid concentrate at 30–60% active content, formulated for open recirculating cooling towers, medium-pressure boiler feedwater, reverse-osmosis pretreatment and oilfield produced-water reinjection. Density of 1.10–1.35 g/cm³ and acidic pH (1.5–3.5 as supplied) confirm a phosphonate-rich blend with high calcium tolerance — suitable for Langelier saturation index control at cycles of concentration above 4. Low-phosphorus and phosphonate-free polymer variants are quoted on request for RO plants and jurisdictions with strict phosphorus discharge limits.
Supply originates from toll-blending facilities at Black Sea and MENA chemical hubs with dedicated liquid-chemical filling lines. Typical buyers include HVAC and district-cooling operators building seasonal chemical inventory, independent water-treatment service companies supplying Gulf industrial parks, desalination EPC contractors staging RO pretreatment chemicals, and upstream oilfield water-management teams controlling barium and calcium sulphate scale in injection wells. HS code 3824.99. MOQ from 24 MT on FOB, CFR or CIF terms.
Full specification
| Active content | 30–60% (phosphonate + polymer actives) |
| pH (as supplied, 25°C) | 1.5–3.5 |
| Density (20°C) | 1.10–1.35 g/cm³ |
| Appearance | Clear to pale yellow liquid |
| Calcium carbonate inhibition | Effective to LSI +2.5 (typical dose 5–15 mg/L active) |
| Calcium sulphate inhibition | Effective to 140% saturation (typical dose) |
| Iron sequestration | Up to 3 mg/L Fe³⁺ at working dose |
| Silica dispersion | Polymer component; grade-specific limit on request |
| Freeze point | −5°C to +5°C (grade-dependent) |
| HS code | 3824.99 |
Loading ports & logistics
Antiscalants ship as non-regulated or low-hazard liquid concentrates depending on active chemistry and local classification. We coordinate three principal delivery modes for export parcels.
200 L polyethylene drums on pallets suit parcels of 24–80 MT assembled into 20-foot containers. Each drum is sealed and labelled with batch number, active content and recommended dilution ratio. Twenty-foot containers hold approximately 18–20 MT net when drum-packed; forty-foot high-cube units reach 24–26 MT.
1,000 L IBC totes are standard for parcels above 40 MT where the receiver has forklift unloading and bulk chemical storage. Totes are UN-rated HDPE with steel cage frames; each unit holds 1.1–1.3 MT net depending on concentrate density. Ideal for water-treatment service companies restocking regional blending tanks.
ISO tank containers (stainless 316L or lined) handle parcels from 100 MT for large cooling-tower and desalination projects. Dedicated chemical tanks prevent cross-contamination with acids or solvents from previous cargoes; cleaning certificate and last-three-cargoes statement are issued before loading. CFR and CIF quotations add ocean freight and marine insurance to the FOB blend price. Typical lead time 10–20 days from contract execution to loading window.
Packaging & documentation
Cargo ships in 200 L PE drums, 1,000 L IBC totes or stainless ISO tanks — presentation quoted separately from the FOB antiscalant price. Each lot is accompanied by a certificate of analysis showing active content, pH, density and appearance, plus a safety data sheet (SDS) per GHS, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin.
Product labels include recommended dosing range, dilution instructions and incompatibility warnings (strong oxidisers, concentrated hypochlorite). Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas or equivalent) at loading can be arranged on buyer request. For drum and IBC shipments, pallet strapping and moisture-barrier stretch wrap protect against salt-air corrosion during coastal transit.
FAQ
When should buyers choose phosphonate versus polymer antiscalants?
Phosphonate grades (HEDP, ATMP, PBTC) excel at sequestering calcium and iron in open recirculating cooling towers and boiler feed circuits where carbonate and sulphate scale is the primary risk. Polymer and copolymer antiscalants target silica, calcium phosphate and mixed deposits in reverse-osmosis pretreatment and high-recovery evaporators. Blended formulations combining both chemistries suit plants with variable make-up water quality across seasonal cycles.
Are these antiscalants compatible with reverse-osmosis membrane systems?
Low-phosphorus and phosphonate-free polymer grades are available for RO pretreatment where discharge permits restrict total phosphorus. Standard phosphonate concentrates are dosed upstream of cartridge filters at 2–15 mg/L active — well below levels that foul polyamide membranes when blowdown and antiscalant feed are balanced. Provide your feed-water analysis (Ca, Mg, alkalinity, silica, sulphate) so we match the correct chemistry and avoid incompatible blends with coagulants or biocides.
What drives the indicative antiscalant price per tonne?
FOB quotations reflect active-ingredient loading (phosphonate versus polymer), phosphorus content for environmental compliance, drum versus IBC packaging, and freight to your discharge port. The USD 410–500/MT band covers current grade differentials between general cooling-tower concentrates and high-purity RO pretreatment blends; firm pricing is fixed at contract signing.
Related products
- Phosphoric Acid — orthophosphate source for blended water-treatment programmes
- Liquid Caustic Soda — alkalinity adjustment ahead of scale-inhibitor dosing
- Sodium Bicarbonate — pH buffering for closed-loop and RO permeate circuits