TITLE:
Characterization of Scale Formed in Drinking Water and Hot Water Pipes in the Taliouine Downtown—Morocco
AUTHORS:
Naima Hafid, M’barek Belaatar, Said Ben-Aazza, Abdellah Hadfi, Mohamed Ezahri, Ali Driouiche
KEYWORDS:
Drinking Water, Scale, Characterization, Calcium Carbonate
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Analytical Chemistry,
Vol.6 No.8,
July
28,
2015
ABSTRACT: This
paper presents the results of a comprehensive study of water scale found in
water distribution system of Taliouine city in the south of Morocco.
Physico-chemical properties of drinking water supplied to the city were
evaluated. The data showed a high level of soluble salt in water. Concentrations
were calcium 108 - 143 mg/1, magnesium 80 - 96 mg/1, bicarbonate 660 - 750 mg/l
and hardness degree 660 - 690 mg CaCO3/l. The water samples contain
high amounts of minerals in the form of ions, especially the metals calcium and
bicarbonate, which precipitated out and caused problems in water conducting or
storing vessels like pipes. Scales were removed from the inside of two old
pipes which transported drinking and hot water in the downtown of Taliouine
city. Scale samples were investigated by XRF, XRD, SEM, DTA, TGA and SEM’s
analytical techniques. This study was able to identify scales formed in pipes
of water distribution systems. It was found that water scale in this city
contains 53% of calcium oxide and 43% of organic matter. The XRD and SEM
results revealed that calcite was the main crystalline structure in drinking
water scale. Nevertheless, scale deposited in hot water pipe is well crystalline
with peaks corresponding mostly to aragonite (88%) along with calcite (12%).
The thermal behavior of scale samples confirms that calcium carbonate was the
main compound in the scale samples. Further studies are needed to find an
efficient antiscale in drinking water of this city.