Suppressing barite crystallization with organophosphorus compounds

Abstract

Molecular modifiers can display a wide range of interactions with crystal interfaces to impede their growth. In this work we evaluate the efficacy of a naturally derived phosphorous-containing molecule, phytate, as an inhibitor of barite crystallization compared to the performance of a commercial organophosphorus standard. We show that both compounds inhibit barite nucleation and growth, with phytate demonstrating enhanced potency over the benchmark compound. Our findings reveal that phytate operates by a distinct mode of action on multiple crystal facets, imparting exceptional efficacy, which combined with its biocompatibility and widespread availability make phytate a potentially viable environmentally-friendly alternative to current barite scale treatments.