BWA Water Additives highlights shift towards maleic acid-based antiscalants

08 May 2011 11:28  [Source: ICB]

Paul Turgeon, president of BWA Water Additives, describes a move away from acrylic acid-based water treatment chemicals in favor of a biodegradable option

BWA Water Additives expects interest to rise for certain maleic acid-based antiscalants in water treatment systems thanks to their biodegradability - and the rising price of acrylic acid.

Antiscalants prevent the formation of solid deposits in water-treatment systems, known as scale, which can inhibit operations. Maleic acid-based antiscalants usually exhibit better performance but have been more expensive than their acrylic-based counterparts.

But continued high prices in the acrylates market are making maleic acid-based antiscalants more competitive, says Paul Turgeon, president of US-based BWA. Maleic acid-based antiscalants are also inherently more biodegradable. "The PMA [polymaleic acid] antiscalants are phosphorus-free products and can be a direct replacement for phosphonate and acrylic antiscalants," Turgeon said.

Acrylic acid prices have shot up worldwide in the past two years.

US glacial acrylic acid contract prices are up to over $1.40/lb (€2.08/kg) versus under 60 cents/lb at the end of April 2009, as assessed by ICIS.

In late April, US acrylic acid producers Dow Chemical and France-based Arkema proposed May contract increases of 5-8 cents/lb ($110-176/tonne) on sharply-higher propylene costs for April.

European acrylic acid and acrylate esters freely negotiated contract prices for April moved up by €25-50/tonne from March. April acrylic acid contracts were ­assessed at €2,175-2,320/tonne FD (free ­delivered) NWE (Northwest ­Europe), up by €25-30/tonne from the ­previous month.

MALEIC UP MORE MODESTLY
Maleic anhydride (MA) prices have also risen but to a lesser degree than acrylic. US contract MA prices have increased from 62 cents/lb in late April 2009 to 86 cents/lb currently. MA is used to make maleic acid.

In the past six months, the company has promoted its new biodegradable PMA antiscalants under the trade names Belaclene 800 and Belaclene 810, designed for cooling and process water applications.

Turgeon claims the new antiscalants have the lowest environmental impact in the industry. They are around 50% biodegradable, within the 20-65% "inherently biodegradable" range described by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD ) test on fresh water biodegradation.

Acrylic-based antiscalants typically are less than 10% biodegradable, while other maleic acid-based antiscalants are about 20% biodegradable, according to the OECD test.

BWA Water Additives is aiming for over 65% biodegradability for its maleic acid-based ­antiscalants in the future, which would put them in the coveted OECD category of "readily biodegradable."

In March, the company also introduced in North America a new biocide under the tradename Bellacide 303, designed for industrial water treatment.

Turgeon says the new biocide, a next-generation quaternary phosphonium salt, offers wide-spectrum protection, inhibits slime formation and is more effective than products currently available on the market.

The new biocide could reduce the need for halogen biocides, which are based on either chlorine or bromine, in water treatment systems. It is compatible with halogen biocides as well, Turgeon adds.

Aided by new products, BWA Water Additives expects sales growth of 10-20% in 2011 from over $140m in sales in 2010.

Additional reporting by Larry Terry in Houston, Truong Mellor in London and Joseph Chang in New York

By: Doris de Guzman
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