The Function of Sequestering Mineral Ions
Iron, Manganese, & Calcium/Magnesium –

The ability of a water treatment additive to form water-soluble complexes with naturally occurring metal ions found in water supplies is an important water stabilization function. Sequestration (or chelation) can be defined as the ability to form a complex bond with metal ions that allows these metal ions to remains in solution despite the presence of precipitation agents. This is a highly valuable and unique water softening benefit providing a water stabilization function by combining with hardness ions naturally found in water supplies including: calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese. With the addition of our sequestering agent to water that contains these metallic ions, the result will be the following:

Calcium & Magnesium – Our treatment will distort the ability of calcium and magnesium to form normal crystal growth patterns thereby preventing scale deposits from developing. The treatment will also gradually remove existing soft calcium/magnesium deposits and, in doing so, provides higher pipeline carrying capacity. The soft scale particles are deflocculated by the treatment and carried away resulting in a clean piping system. This continuous treatment maintenance will enhance the system’s infrastructure while providing a excellent surface for corrosion inhibition film formation.

Iron & Manganese – Chlorination of water containing low levels of iron results in the formation of insoluble iron oxide or iron chlorides. These compounds are the cause of what is commonly called “red water.” Soluble manganese compounds undergo similar reactions to form “black water.” With the applications of Sequest-All EMC, Sequest-All, or Linear2 before chlorination to this type of water will result in the formation of colorless compounds of these metals and the elimination of the development of insoluble precipitates. Sequest-All EMC is more effective under more alkaline conditions (pH 7-9), while Linear2 and Sequest-All functions better at medium and lower pH ranges (pH 6.-7.5).

Threshold Properties – A remarkable property of our sequestrating products is that only a very small quantity is required to inhibit the precipitation of insoluble calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese in water distribution lines. Only a few milligrams per liter are necessary to prevent the formation of scale from water containing hardness at levels of several hundred milligrams per liter. This amount, however, is too small to completely sequester all the hardness in the water. The effect of stabilization of supersaturated water is known as softening by inhibition or “threshold treatment.” This effect is also found in our products ability to inhibit corrosion. While our sequestering products can be corrosive to mild steel and iron at high concentrations, dosages in the milligrams per liter range will effectively reduce corrosion rates in water distribution lines..