Theoretical and experimental insights into the control of calcium sulfate scales by using random copolymers based on itaconic acid

• Control of CaSO4 scales by a new itaconic acid–sodium vinyl sulfonate copolymer.
• Theoretical–experimental research of the supramolecular assembly copolymer-CaSO4.
• Evaluation of a industrial prospective of copolymer in incompatible water systems.

A new itaconic acid (IA)–sodium vinyl sulfonate (VS) copolymer is proposed to control the formation of calcium sulfate scales. The supramolecular interacting system IA–VS copolymer-calcium sulfate scales was characterized by means of scanning electronic microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, density parameters, X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy, as well as molecular modeling through density functional theory. Industrial potential of the IA–VS copolymer and its operation in an incompatible water system having scaling calcium salts are also evaluated. Results show that the IA–VS copolymer is able to control growing of inorganic mineral scales through the formation of supramolecular complexes, which are soluble in aqueous solution and can induce morphological changes into the precipitated material.