Silica scale inhibition by polyaminoamide STARBURST® dendrimers

This paper reports the inhibition efficiency of a family of polyaminoamide (PAMAM) STARBURST((R)) dendrimers in colloidal SiO2 growth. PAMAMs of various generations (0.5, 1.5, 2.5 with -COOH termini, and 1, and 2 with -NH2 termini) were tested and compared to control samples. Superiority of the dendrimer inhibitors with -NH2 termini (maintaining similar to380 ppm soluble SiO2 after 12 h) versus those with -COOH termini (maintaining similar to180 ppm soluble SiO2 after 12 h) was discovered in solutions containing 500 ppm, initial SiO2. These inhibitors present potential for water treatment applications. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.