Water treatment cleaning agents are chemical formulations used to remove foulants, microorganisms, and scale deposits from water treatment equipment (such as reverse osmosis membranes, water tanks, piping, and heat exchangers). They are categorized into four main types based on function: scale inhibitors, cleaning agents, biocides, and flocculants.
Scale inhibitors (e.g., polyphosphates, organic phosphonic acids) prevent scale formation by chelating calcium and magnesium ions; cleaning agents (e.g., citric acid, sodium hydroxide) dissolve deposits such as calcium carbonate and rust; biocides (e.g., isothiazolinones, sodium hypochlorite) eliminate bacteria and algae; and flocculants (e.g., polyaluminum chloride) aggregate suspended particles to facilitate filtration. They are further classified by the specific system they serve-such as reverse osmosis membranes (low-pH or high-pH formulations), circulating water systems (high-temperature resistant), and boiler water systems (neutral and safe)-to effectively address issues like scaling, corrosion, or biofouling in various operational contexts.