Cleaning composition and method for removing scale deposits in desalination applications

Abstract

Provided herein are compositions and methods for cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, and / or for removing inorganic and organic scaling from such units, comprising mixtures of short chain organic acids; mixtures of substituted carboxylic acids; mixtures of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates; mixtures of chelating agents; or mixtures of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers, and / or terpolymers.

Description

140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940)CLEANING COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR REMOVING SCALE DEPOSITS IN DESALINATION APPLICATIONSCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application claims priority to India Provisional Patent Application No.202411069859, filed on September 16, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0001] The disclosed technology provides for compositions and methods for cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, and / or for removing scale deposits from such units. More specifically, the disclosed technology provides for compositions and methods for cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, and / or for removing scale deposits from such units, comprising mixtures of short chain organic acids; mixtures of substituted carboxylic acids; mixtures of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates; mixtures of chelating agents; or mixtures of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers, and / or terpolymers.

[0002] Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) and Multi-Stage Flash Distillation (MSF) are desalination processes that use steam to heat feed water in multiple stages to produce distilled water. The Multi Effect Desalination and Multi-Stage Flash Distillation processes are designed to produce distilled water with steam or waste heat from power production or chemical processes, and / or to produce potable water.

[0003] An evaporator, such as an MED or MSF, consists of several consecutive cells (or effects) maintained at decreasing levels of pressure (and temperature) from the first (hot) cell to the last one (cold). Each cell mainly consists of a horizontal tube bundle. The top of the bundle is sprayed with the sea water make-up that then flows down from tube to tube by gravity.

[0004] Heating steam is introduced inside the tubes. Since tubes are cooled externally by makeup flow, steam condenses into distillate (fresh water) inside the tubes. At the same time sea water warms up and partly evaporates by recovering the condensation heat (latent heat). Due to evaporation, sea water slightly concentrates when flowing down the bundle and gives brine at the bottom of the cell. The vapor raised by sea water evaporation is at a lower temperature1MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940) than heating steam. However it can still be used as heating media for the next effect where the process is repeated. The decreasing pressure from one cell to the next one allows brine and distillate to be drawn to the next cell where they will flash and release additional amounts of vapor at the lower pressure. This additional vapor will condense into distillate inside the next cell.

[0005] This process is repeated in a series of effects (Multiple Effect Distillation (MED) or Multi-Stage Flash Distillation (MSF)). In the last cell, the produced steam condenses on a conventional shell and tubes heat exchanger. This exchanger, called a "distillate condenser", is cooled by sea water. At the outlet of this condenser, part of the warmed sea water is used as make-up of the unit, the other part is rejected to the sea. Brine and distillate are collected from cell to cell until the last one from where they are extracted by centrifugal pumps.

[0006] The thermal efficiency of such an evaporator can be quantified as the number of kilos of distillate produced per one kilo of steam introduced in the system. Such a number is called the Gain Output Ratio (GOR).

[0007] In some instances, scale formation can occur on the outer surfaces of the steam tubes inside the different sections, i.e., an intermediate and hot group, of the MED unit where the temperature is between 50 to 74°C. Occasionally, it may also form a bridge between the tubes. Scale formation may also occur at the inner shell surface of the MED unit. Prolonged adherence of scale may lead to pitting corrosion and / or reduced efficiency of the process unit. Additives designed to reduce and / or eliminate scaling in these units are needed.SUMMARY

[0008] The disclosed technology provides for compositions and methods for cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, and / or for removing scale deposits, wherein the compositions comprise mixtures of short chain organic acids; mixtures of substituted carboxylic acids; mixtures of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates; mixtures of chelating agents; or mixtures of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers, and / or terpolymers.

[0009] Various aspects of the disclosed technology relate to a method of removing scales from a distillation unit, a part of a desalination unit, and / or a process unit surface comprising adding2MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940) to the distillation unit, desalination unit, or process unit, at a temperature of between about 25°C to about 120°C, an effective amount of a treatment composition, wherein the treatment composition comprises (i) a Ci-Ce carboxylic acid, or salts thereof; (ii) a substituted carboxylic acid, or salts thereof; (iii) a mixture of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates; (iv) a mixture of chelating agents; or (v) a mixture of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers, and / or terpolymers; wherein the scales comprise calcium carbonate scales, calcium sulfate scales, strontium sulfate scales, organic scales, inorganic scales, mixed scales, or combinations thereof.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] Those of skill in the art will understand that the figures, described below, are for illustrative purposes only. The figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a deposit sample solubilization phase appearance after addition of an embodiment of a treatment composition of the disclosed technology.

[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates the FT-IR profile of a calcium sulphate hemihydrate standard, a calcium carbonate standard and Deposit Samples 1 and 2. The figure shows that the deposit samples substantially match the IR pattern of standard calcium carbonate and sulphate salts, which confirms their composition.

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a deposit sample solubilization phase appearance after addition of a Currently Available Treatment (CAT).

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates corrosion of example aluminum, copper and titanium tubes after exposure to an embodiment of a treatment composition of the disclosed technology.

[0015] FIG. 5 provides microscopic images of the aluminum and titanium tubes of FIG. 4 before and after exposure to embodiments of treatment compositions of the disclosed technology.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without3MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940) resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about”, is not limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Range limitations may be combined and / or interchanged, and such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges stated herein unless context or language indicates otherwise. Other than in the operating examples or where otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions referring to quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions and the like, used in the specification and the claims, are to be understood as modified in all instances by the term “about”.

[0017] “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, or that the subsequently identified material may or may not be present, and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs or where the material is present, and instances where the event or circumstance does not occur or the material is not present.

[0018] As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “has”, “having”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0019] The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0020] The disclosed technology provides for compositions and methods for cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, and / or for removing scale deposits from such units. More specifically, the disclosed technology provides for methods for cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, and / or for removing scale deposits from such units, comprising adding an effective amount of treatment compositions comprising mixtures of short chain organic acids; mixtures of substituted carboxylic acids; mixtures of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates; mixtures of chelating agents; or mixtures of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers, and / or terpolymers.4MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940)

[0021] The disclosed technology provides for a method of cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, and / or for removing scale deposits from such units with or without the use of corrosion inhibitors. Surprisingly, it was found that compositions including blends of short chain organic acids, as well as mixtures of substituted carboxylic acids; mixtures of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers and terpolymers; and / or mixtures of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates, were effective in dissolving, within 8-24 hours, calcium carbonate major scales and calcium sulfate major scales on steam tubes from MED units. Without being bound by theory, the compositions simultaneously perform as dispersants and chelants for removing unwanted deposits from the MED units.

[0022] As used herein, the term “distillation unit” may be understood to mean a device or system used to separate components of a mixture based on differences in their volatilities through distillation.

[0023] As used herein, the term “Multiple Effect Distillation (MED) unit” may be understood to mean a distillation system, such as a water desalination system, designed to improve efficiency by reusing energy across multiple stages, or “effects” of distillation. The system may consist of a series of distillation stages (effects) where the vapor from one stage is used to heat the subsequent stage.

[0024] As used herein, the term “an effective amount” may be understood to mean any amount of the treatment composition that is effective in removing scaling from a distillation unit.

[0025] As used herein, the term “short chain organic acid” may be understood to mean organic acids characterized by a relatively short carbon chain length, for example, ranging from one to six carbon atoms.

[0026] As used herein, the term “scales” or “scaling” may be understood to mean the buildup of minerals, such as calcium carbonate or calcium sulfate, on surfaces like pipes, boilers, and heat exchangers, which can impede water flow and reduce efficiency.

[0027] In various aspects, the disclosed technology provides treatment compositions for cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, and / or for removing scale deposits from such units, wherein the treatment compositions comprise a mixture of short chain organic acids, or salts thereof. In various aspects, the treatment5MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940) compositions comprise a mixture of two or more short chain organic acids. In some aspects, the short chain organic acids may comprise Ci-Ce organic acids. Suitable Ci-Ce organic acids may include Ci-Ce carboxylic acids. In some aspects, the treatment composition may comprise at least one C1-3 mono-, di-, tri-, or cyclic carboxylic acid. In some aspects, the treatment composition may comprise at least one C4-6 mono-, di-, tri-, or cyclic carboxylic acid. In some aspects the treatment composition may comprise a mixture of a Ci and a Ce organic acid. In some aspects, the treatment composition may comprise a mixture of a Ci carboxylic acid and a C2 to Ce substituted carboxylic acid in a weight ratio of about 1:0.5 to 0.5: 1.

[0028] In various aspects, the treatment compositions may include any amount of the mixture of short chain organic acids that is effective in cleaning a distillation unit, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces. In some aspects, each short chain organic acid may be present in the treatment composition in an amount of about 2.0% to about 50.0%, or in an amount of about 3% to about 40% by weight of the treatment composition, or an amount of about 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5%, 7%, 7.5%, 8%, 8.5%, 9%, 9.5%, 10%, 10.5%, 11%,11.5%, 12%, 12.5%, 13%, 13.5%, 14%, 14.5%, 15%, 15.5%, 16%, 16.5%, 17%, 17.5%, 18%18.5%, 19%, 19.5%, 20%, 20.5%, 21%, 21.5%, 22%, 22.5%, 23%, 23.5%, 24%, 24.5%, 25%25.5%, 26%, 26.5%, 27%, 27.5%, 28%, 28.5%, 29%, 29.5%, 30%, 30.5%, 31%, 31.5%, 32%32.5%, 33%, 33.5%, 34%, 34.5%, 35%, 35.5%, 36%, 36.5%, 37%, 37.5%, 38%, 38.5%, 39%39.5%, or 40% by weight of the treatment composition, or between about 3.5% to about 37.5% by weight of the treatment composition, or any percentage between any of these values.

[0029] In various aspects, the disclosed technology further provides methods of cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, comprising adding an effective amount of the treatment composition comprising a mixture of short chain organic acids. In various aspects, the cleaning may include reducing or removing scale buildup in the distillation unit, desalination unit, or process unit. In various aspects, the treatment composition may be added to the distillation units, desalination units, or process units in a weight ratio of 1: 10 to 1:50 scale:treatment composition, or an amount of 1: 10, 1:20, 1:30, 1:40 or 1:50 scale:treatment composition, or any weight ratio between any of these values.

[0030] In various aspects, the disclosed technology provides treatment compositions for cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, wherein the treatment compositions comprise a mixture of substituted carboxylic acids, or salts thereof. In6MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940) some aspects, the mixture of substituted carboxylic acids may include amino-substituted carboxylic acids, hydroxy-substituted carboxylic acids, and the like, or combinations thereof. Suitable amino carboxylic acids may include aspartic acid, amino butyric acid, amino pentane dioic acid, poly aspartates, amino cyclopropane carboxylic acid, and the like, or combinations thereof. Suitable hydroxy carboxylic acids may include malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, and the like, or combinations thereof.

[0031] In various aspects, the treatment compositions may include any amount of the mixture of substituted carboxylic acids that is effective in cleaning a distillation unit, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces. In some aspects, the mixture of substituted carboxylic acids may be present in the treatment composition in an amount of about 1% to about 30% by weight of the treatment composition, or an amount of about 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, or 30% by weight of the treatment composition, or between about 5% to about 20% by weight of the treatment composition, or any percentage between any of these values.

[0032] In various aspects, the disclosed technology further provides methods of cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, comprising adding an effective amount of the treatment composition comprising a mixture of substituted carboxylic acids. In various aspects, the cleaning may include reducing or removing scale buildup in the distillation unit, desalination unit, or process unit. In various aspects, the disclosed technology provides treatment compositions for cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, wherein the treatment compositions comprise a mixture of chelating agents. Suitable chelating agents include, but are not limited to, glutamic acid diacetate (GLDA), Hydroxyethyl ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (HEDTA), Diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTP A), Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and the like, or combinations thereof.

[0033] In various aspects, the treatment compositions may include any amount of the mixture of chelating agents that is effective in cleaning a distillation unit, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces. In some aspects, the mixture of chelating agents may be present in the treatment composition in an amount of about 1% to about 30% by weight of the treatment composition, or an amount of about 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, or 30% by weight of the treatment composition, or between about 5% to about 20% by weight of the treatment composition, or any percentage between any of these values.7MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940)

[0034] In various aspects, the disclosed technology further provides methods of cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, comprising adding an effective amount of the treatment composition comprising a mixture of chelating agents. In various aspects, the cleaning may include reducing or removing scale buildup in the distillation unit, desalination unit, or process unit.

[0035] In various aspects, the disclosed technology provides treatment compositions for cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, wherein the treatment compositions comprise a mixture of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers, and / or terpolymers.

[0036] In some aspects, the mixture of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers and / or terpolymers may comprise a polymeric carboxylic acid such as a polyacrylic acid with a MW (weight average molecular weight) range of 500-100,000 Da, or 500 to 7000 Da, or 3000 to 5000 Da, or 4000 to 4500 Da, or a salt thereof; poly maleic acid; poly epoxy succinic acid; poly aspartic acid; acrylic acid / acrylamide propane sulfonic acid; maleic / acrylic-terpolymer; sulfonated / carboxylic terpolymer; acrylic-allyl hydroxy propane sulfonate; and the like. In some aspects, suitable polyacrylic acids or salts thereof may include, but are not limited to, sodium poly aery late and the like.

[0037] In various aspects, the mixture of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers and / or terpolymers may be included in the treatment composition in an amount of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the treatment composition, or in an amount of about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19% or 20% by weight of the treatment composition, or between about 5% to about 10% by weight of the treatment composition, or any percentage between any of these values.

[0038] In various aspects, the disclosed technology further provides methods of cleaning distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, comprising adding an effective amount of the treatment composition comprising a mixture of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers and / or terpolymers. In various aspects, the cleaning may include reducing or removing scale buildup in the distillation unit, desalination unit, or process unit.8MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940)

[0039] In various aspects, the disclosed technology further provides treatment compositions for cleaning distillation units, parts of desalination units, or process unit surfaces, wherein the treatment compositions comprise a mixture of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates. In some aspects, the mixture of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates may comprise tri-, tetra-, or penta-phosphonates, 1 -Hydroxy Ethylidene-l,l-Diphosphonic Acid (HEDP), Poly amino Poly ether Methylene Phosphonic Acid (PAPEMP), 2-phosphonobutane 1, 2, 4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC), and combinations thereof, wherein the mixture of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates has a total weight average molecular weight (MW) of 100 to 2000 Da. In various aspects, the mixture of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates may be present in the treatment composition in an amount of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the treatment composition, or about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19% or 20% by weight of the treatment composition, or between about 5% to about 10% by weight of the treatment composition, or any percentage between any of these values.

[0040] In various aspects, the treatment compositions of the disclosed technology may include additional additives, such as a base, and / or water. Suitable bases may include, but are not limited to, sodium hydroxide, and the like. In some aspects, the treatment composition may include about 1% to about 15% by weight of a 50% NaOH solution, or about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, or 15% by weight of a 50% NaOH solution, or any percentage between any of these values.

[0041] In various aspects, the disclosed technology further provides methods of cleaning distillation units, parts of desalination units, or process unit surfaces comprising adding an effective amount of the treatment composition comprising a mixtures of short chain organic acids, mixtures of substituted carboxylic acids, mixtures of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates, mixtures of chelating agents, or mixtures of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers, and / or terpolymers. In various aspects, the cleaning may include reducing or removing scale buildup in the distillation unit, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit. In various aspects, the treatment compositions may be added in an amount of about 1000 to about 100,000 ppm by volume, or in an amount of about 1000 ppm by volume, 5000 ppm by volume, 10,000 ppm by volume, 20,000 ppm by volume, 30,000 ppm by volume, 40,000 ppm by volume, 50,000 ppm by volume, 60,000 ppm by volume, 70,000 ppm by volume, 80,000 ppm9MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940) by volume, 90,000 ppm by volume, or 100,000 ppm by volume, or any concentration between any of these values.

[0042] In various aspects, the treatment compositions of the disclosed technology may be used to remove scale deposits such as calcium carbonate scales, calcium sulfate scales, strontium sulfate scales, organic scales, inorganic scales, mixed scales, or combinations thereof.

[0043] In various aspects, the treatment compositions of the disclosed technology may be added to the distillation units, parts of a desalination unit, or process unit surfaces, at a temperature of between about 25°C to about 120°C, or from about 25°C to about 90°C, from about 25 °C to about 60°C, or from about 25 °C to about 50°C.

[0044] In various aspects, the treatment compositions of the disclosed technology may be used to clean and / or reduce or remove scaling from any distillation unit, desalination unit or process unit surface that is susceptible to scaling. Suitable distillation units may include MED units, multi-stage flash distillation units and water desalination units. In some aspects, the treatment compositions may be used to reduce or remove scale formation on the outer surface of steam tubes inside different sections of a MED unit, such as the 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, or 2ndeffect. In some aspects, the treatment compositions may be used to reduce or remove scale formation on the inner shell surface of the MED unit.

[0045] In various aspects, the treatment compositions of the disclosed technology may be added to distillation units, desalination units, or process units in upstream oil and gas processes, industrial processes, geothermal processes, mining processes, membrane processes, and the like.

[0046] In various aspects, the treatment compositions of the disclosed technology may reduce or remove scaling within 24 hours, or within 16-20 hours, or within 16-17 hours.

[0047] In various aspects, the treatment compositions of the disclosed technology may be free of corrosion inhibitors.EXAMPLES10MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940)

[0048] The_present technology will be further described in the following examples, which should be viewed as being illustrative and should not be construed to narrow the scope of the disclosed technology or limit the scope to any particular embodiments.

[0049] Example 1

[0050] Solubilization Studies

[0051] Solubilization studies were performed with a Treatment Composition 1, containing a mixture of Ci and Ce organic acids, a Treatment Composition 2, containing a polyacrylic acidbased polymeric solution and a mixture of phosphonates, and a Currently Available Treatment (CAT). Treatment Compositions 1 and 2 and Currently Available Treatment (CAT) were added to deposit samples, at 25-30°C, containing calcium carbonate with organic and calcium sulfate major scales received from the field. FIG. 2 shows the FT-IR profile of standard calcium sulphate hemihydrate, standard calcium carbonate and Deposit Samples 1 and 2 after addition of Treatment Compositions 1 and 2.

[0052] Results of the solubilization studies after addition of Treatment Compositions 1 and 2 are shown in FIG. 1. Results of the solubilization studies after addition of the Currently Available Treatment (CAT) are shown in FIG. 3 and in Table 1 below.

[0053] Table 1

[0054] As shown in Table 1, Treatment Composition 2 was effective in solubilizing and dispersing 85-100% of the scale in the deposit samples, as compared to only 0-14% for CaSCE scale and 5-58% for CaCCE scale solubilization after addition of the Currently Available Treatment (CAT).11MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940)

[0055] Example 2

[0056] Corrosion Studies

[0057] Corrosion studies were performed with Treatment Compositions 1 and 2 (both static and dynamic conditions at different temperatures of 25, 45 and 50°C) against example aluminum, titanium and copper tubes, which were part of an example MED unit. Corrosion data after addition of Treatment Composition 1 (TCI) and Treatment Composition 2 (TC2) at 50°C is shown in FIG. 4, and below in Table 2.

[0058] Table 2

[0059] Microscopic images of the example aluminum and titanium tubes before and after exposure to Treatment Compositions 1 and 2 and Currently Available Treatment (CAT) are shown in FIG. 5.

[0060] While embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not so limited, and modifications may be made without departing from the disclosed technology. The scope of the disclosed technology is defined by12MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940) the appended claims, and all devices, processes, and methods that come within the meaning of the claims, either literally or by equivalence, are intended to be embraced therein.13MEl\57433522.vl

Claims

140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940)CLAIMS1. A method of removing scales from a distillation unit, a part of a desalination unit, and / or a process unit surface comprising adding to the distillation unit, desalination unit, and / or process unit, at a temperature of between about 25 °C to about 120°C, an effective amount of a treatment composition, wherein the treatment composition comprises(i) a Ci-Ce carboxylic acid, or salts thereof;(ii) a substituted carboxylic acid, or salts thereof;(iii) a mixture of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates;(iv) a mixture of chelating agents; or(v) a mixture of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers, and / or terpolymers; or combinations thereof; wherein the scales comprise calcium carbonate scales, calcium sulfate scales, strontium sulfate scales, organic scales, inorganic scales, mixed scales, or combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment composition comprises at least one C1-3 mono-, di-, tri-, cyclic, or substituted carboxylic acid.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the treatment composition comprises at least one C4-6 mono-, di-, tri-, cyclic, or substituted carboxylic acid.

4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the treatment composition comprises a mixture of a Ci carboxylic acid and a C2 to Ce substituted carboxylic acid.

5. The method of any one of claims 2-4, wherein each Ci-Ce carboxylic acid is present in the treatment composition in an amount between about 2.0% to about 50.0% by weight of the treatment composition.

6. The method of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the treatment composition comprises a substituted carboxylic acid selected from aspartic acid, amino butyric acid, amino pentane dioic acid, poly aspartates, amino cyclopropane carboxylic acid, or combinations thereof.14MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940)7. The method of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the treatment composition comprises a substituted carboxylic acid selected from malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the treatment composition comprises phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates selected from tri-, tetra-, or penta-phosphonates, 1- Hydroxy Ethylidene-l,l-Diphosphonic Acid (HEDP), Polyamino Poly ether Methylene Phosphonic Acid (PAPEMP), 2-phosphonobutane 1, 2, 4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC), or combinations thereof, and wherein the mixture of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates has a total molecular weight (MW) of 100 to 2000.

9. The method of any one of claims 8, wherein the mixture of phosphonic acids and / or phosphonates is present in the treatment composition in an amount of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the treatment composition.

10. The method of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the treatment composition comprises a mixture of chelating agents selected from glutamic acid diacetate (GLDA), Hydroxyethyl ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (HEDTA), Diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA), Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), and combinations thereof.

11. The method of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the treatment composition comprises a mixture of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers, and / or terpolymers comprising a poly acrylic acid or a salt thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the poly acrylic acid or salt thereof is characterized by a MW of between about 500 to 7000 Da.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the polyacrylic acid salt is sodium polyacrylate.15MEl\57433522.vl140015-04219PP2024_018 (40980-940)14. The method of any one of claims 11-13, wherein the mixture of carboxylate copolymers, homopolymers, and / or terpolymers is present in the treatment composition in an amount of between about 1% to about 20% by weight of the treatment composition.

15. The method of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the treatment composition is added in an amount by weight of about 1: 10 to about 1:50 scale:treatment composition.

16. The method of any one of claims 1-15, wherein the method comprises adding the treatment composition to the distillation unit, desalination unit, and / or process unit, at a temperature of between about 25°C to about 60°C.

17. The method of any one of claims 1-16, wherein the treatment composition is added to a distillation unit, desalination unit, and / or process unit surface comprising scale deposits in upstream oil and gas processes, industrial processes, geothermal processes, mining processes, or membrane processes.

18. The method of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the distillation unit is a Multiple Effect Distillation (MED) unit or a multi-stage flash distillation unit.

19. The method of any one of claims 1-18, wherein the treatment composition is free of corrosion inhibitors.16MEl\57433522.vl

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