The research progress of environmentally friendly inhibitors in the field of water treatment: a review

The environmentally friendly scale inhibitor has unique physical and chemical properties. The scale-blocking effect is induced upon exposure to the aquatic environment, which renders it a subject of extensive investigation in water treatment. Environmentally friendly inhibitors with low toxicity have become a major research target, especially in the last few years. An effective inhibitor should possess the capability to mitigate fouling and exhibit compatibility with other components. Besides, the requirements of environmental regulations should be met. Only biodegradable and environmentally friendly inhibitors can be developed for green and sustainable water treatment. While numerous researchers have published reviews on inhibitors, there is a paucity of literature on the emerging trend in the water treatment industry toward less toxic and environmentally friendly inhibitors. The work explored the progress of polyaspartic acid and polycyclic oxygen succinic acid and their derivatives, plant extracts and their derivatives, the progress of new synthetic materials, and the breakthrough of technical difficulties. Finally, the future development direction was predicted. The work aimed to fully understand the current methods for synthesizing inhibitors.