Chemical Science International Journal

Oilfield-scale formation is a persistent challenge in the oil industry. While numerous scale inhibitors have been in use for decades, there is a significant research gap in discovering renewable, cost-effective, ecologically friendly, and efficient inhibitors. This study sets out to fill this gap by investigating the potential of scale inhibitors (SIs) made from bio-resin derivatives of red onion skin; ROF and ROFU, in reducing CaCO₃ and CaSO₄ scales. The scale inhibition performance of ROF and ROFU was rigorously evaluated using the NACE standard static bottle test method. The data revealed that increasing scale-inhibitor contact time, concentration, and temperature enhances inhibitor efficacy, with the best inhibition efficiencies found for ROF and ROFU on the CaSO₄ scale compared to the CaCO₃ scale across all studied parameters. A comparison of the prepared SIs with a commercial scale inhibitor (CSI) showed a high inhibition rate of over 90% at minimal dosage of 60ppm in both scales studied. Despite having a lower inhibition rate (IE) than CSI, ROF and ROFU demonstrate significant potential as green oilfield SIs. This sustainable technique, which transforms agro-waste into a valuable oilfield chemical via a one-pot chemical process, could have profound economic and societal benefits, offering hope for a more sustainable future in the oil industry.