- Anti-scaling agent
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An anti-scaling agent, also known as descaling agent, anti-limestone, anti-limescale, anti-lime or anti-scale are preparations to prevent the buildup or to remove limescale and fouling. Anti-scaling agent agents usually contain acids such as acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfamic acid to remove limescale buildup, chelators such as EDTA and phosphonates prevent limescale buildup, and biocides such as sorbic acid to prevent microbial and algal growth.
Contents
Uses
Household
Descalers can be used to remove limescale, e.g. from water taps, kettles, coffeemakers, toilets, and water pipes. Some Washing machine & Dishwasher manufacturing companies offer specialised Descaling agents in consumer packs which can be used by individuals or by authorised Technicians to clean the scales deposited on the heaters in these appliances. These Descaling agents can also be used to clean taps and shower heads and other fixtures and appliances with due caution.
Descaling agents
Common descaling agents include formic acid, vinegar (acetic acid), lactic acid and citric acid. Descaling agents can have adverse effects on surfaces being descaled. As a result some agents are better for some tasks than others. Glass is unreactive and almost any descaling agent can be used provided the glass item can be placed in a similarly unreactive container. Coffee machines on the other hand are constructed of a range of materials, including plastic, silicone (in seals), aluminium alloys, brass and stainless steel, complicating selection of a suitable descaler[1].
Process industries
Anti-scaling agents are used as process chemicals in the process industries to reduce the need for maintenance stops.
See also
- Chelating
- Water softener
- Magnetic water treatment
- Tooth scaling, the removal of tartar from teeth
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