Use of antiscalants in membrane distillation

Scaling, the deposition of inorganic foulants on the membrane surface, is a major challenge for the commercial application of membrane distillation (MD). Among the various scaling mitigation strategies, the use of surface-active chemical additives called antiscalants is considered a cost-effective approach. This chapter discusses the scaling mechanism, its effect on MD performance and features of conventional antiscalants. Influence of commonly used antiscalants for various MD applications, such as desalination and brine treatment, is discussed. Finally, the chapter highlights the concerns pertaining to the continued use of phosphorus-based conventional antiscalants that pose environmental hazards, and the potential of green antiscalants as an alternative.