Applications & Product Selection Guide
Where each ZEELCHEM™ polymer and phosphonate performs best, and how they are combined in treatment programmes.
Cooling tower water treatment
Open recirculating cooling systems concentrate hardness, alkalinity and silica as water evaporates. A combination of phosphonate (HEDP, ATMP, PBTC or PAPEMP) with a dispersant polymer (AA/AMPS or terpolymer) prevents CaCO₃ and calcium phosphate scale and keeps heat-exchanger surfaces clean at higher cycles of concentration.
Recommended: HEDP 60 (ZEELCHEM™ 101) · PBTC 50 (ZEELCHEM™ 121) · Copolymer of AA/AMPS (ZEELCHEM™ 3100) · Terpolymer (ZEELCHEM™ 7000)
Boiler water treatment
In low- and medium-pressure boilers, HPMA and MA/AA copolymers control carbonate scale and sludge at high temperature and alkalinity, while HEDP and ATMP sequester residual hardness.
Recommended: Polymaleic Acid (ZEELCHEM™ 200) · Copolymer of MA/AA (ZEELCHEM™ 3000) · HEDP 60 (ZEELCHEM™ 101)
RO & membrane antiscalants
Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes foul when sparingly soluble salts exceed saturation in the concentrate. Formulators blend phosphonates (ATMP, HEDP, DTPMP, PAPEMP) with sulfonated polymers (AA/AMPS) for broad-spectrum antiscalants.
Recommended: PAPEMPA (ZEELCHEM™ 151) · Copolymer of AA/AMPS (ZEELCHEM™ 3100) · ATMP 50 (ZEELCHEM™ 111)
Oilfield & produced water
Water injection and produced-water reinjection face barium, strontium and calcium sulphate and carbonate scaling. DTPMP is the reference sulphate inhibitor; PBTC and HPMA cover carbonate scale.
Recommended: DTPMP (ZEELCHEM™ 131) · PBTC 50 (ZEELCHEM™ 121) · Polymaleic Acid (ZEELCHEM™ 200)
Detergents & industrial cleaning
Polymers act as co-builders and anti-redeposition agents in phosphate-free detergents, while phosphonates sequester hardness and stabilise bleach in laundry, dishwashing, bottle washing and CIP products.
Recommended: Copolymer of MA/AA (ZEELCHEM™ 3000) · Sodium Polyacrylate Liquid (ZEELCHEM™ 1000.Z7) · HEDP 60 (ZEELCHEM™ 101)
Textile processing & bleaching
HEDP and DTPMP stabilise hydrogen peroxide and chelate iron during bleaching; polyacrylates disperse hardness and impurities in scouring and dyeing baths.
Recommended: HEDP 60 (ZEELCHEM™ 101) · DTPMP (ZEELCHEM™ 131) · Polyacrylic Acid (ZEELCHEM™ 1000)
Paper, pigment & mineral dispersion
Sodium polyacrylate and PAA lower the viscosity of high-solids calcium carbonate, kaolin and titanium dioxide slurries for paper coating, paints and ceramics.
Recommended: Sodium Polyacrylate Liquid (ZEELCHEM™ 1000.Z7) · Polyacrylic Acid (ZEELCHEM™ 1000)
Thermal desalination & evaporators
HPMA is the established carbonate inhibitor for MSF desalination, sugar evaporators and other high-temperature brine heaters.
Recommended: Polymaleic Acid (ZEELCHEM™ 200)
Selection matrix
● marks a typical, proven use.
| Product | Cooling water | Boiler | RO / membrane | Oilfield | Detergent & cleaning | Textile | Paper / pigment | Thermal desalination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZEELCHEM™ 1000 Polyacrylic Acid | ● | ● | · | ● | ● | ● | ● | · |
| ZEELCHEM™ 200 Polymaleic Acid | ● | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · | ● |
| ZEELCHEM™ 3000 Copolymer of MA/AA | ● | ● | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · |
| ZEELCHEM™ 3100 Copolymer of AA/AMPS | ● | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · |
| ZEELCHEM™ 7000 Terpolymer | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · |
| ZEELCHEM™ 1000.Z7 Sodium Polyacrylate Liquid | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · |
| ZEELCHEM™ 101 HEDP 60 | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | · | · |
| ZEELCHEM™ 111 ATMP 50 | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | · | · |
| ZEELCHEM™ 121 PBTC 50 | ● | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · |
| ZEELCHEM™ 131 DTPMP | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | · |
| ZEELCHEM™ 151 PAPEMPA | ● | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · |
Not sure which product fits your system?
Send us your water analysis, system type and operating cycles. We will recommend a product combination and dosage.