The effect of DTPA on calcium carbonate scale deposition on copper and aluminium surfaces

Abstract Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) scale inhibition by Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) on copper and aluminium metal surfaces was studied at 60 and 100 °C. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results revealed a novel pot like morphology for calcite which was resulted from the transformation of dumbbell morphology. The pot like morphology exposed the possibility of hollow structures for other polymorphs and is resulted from the breaking apart of the dumbbell structures at the middle, followed by fluffing of the separated parts.