Preliminary Assessment of <i>Terminalia Mantaly</i> Gum Exudate as a GreenScale Inhibitor

Abstract The study explores the potential of Terminalia mantaly gum as a sustainable, effective inhibitor of barium sulfate scale. The use of green materials has garnered attention as a promising natural compound for industrial processes. Scale formation, a pervasive issue in oil production and water treatment, leads to reduced efficiency and increased maintenance costscaused by blockages in pipelines, oil wells etc. However, the use of scale inhibitors has been used for the control of various scale types including barium sulfate scale. Terminalia mantaly gum, a natural polysaccharide, with its abundance, bio-degradable and eco-friendly characteristics aligns with the growing global emphasis on sustainable and green technologies. The gum exudate was extracted from the bark of a Terminalia mantalytree. The preliminary analysis of the scale- inhibitory effect of terminalia gum was evaluated using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA),X-ray diffraction(XRD), Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze their crystal structure, thermal stability, identify and quantify the chemical concentration of the compounds present. Results showed an onset degradation at 315.5 ˚C temperature with a sudden decrease in mass of the sample at a calcination temperature of 560 ˚C. The average crystal size was observed to be twice that of synthetic gum with a high peak intensity (8.45). The FTIR spectra showed a high peak intensity, and symmetrical vibration of the O-H bond which is characteristic of glucoside ring. The chromatogram identified seven compounds linked to a functional group with the major constituent being 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester at a peak of 63.52 %, indicating that fatty acids are the dominant constituents inTerminalia mantalygum. Its high compatibility with diverse water compositions makes it a potential solution for scale inhibition.The study has shown that Terminalia mantalygum is a viable, eco-conscious option for mitigating scales based on its chemical composition, and crystalline structure, though less efficient at temperatures above 300˚C.