| abstract |
A depolymerized-carboxyalkyl polysaccharide formed by de polymerizing a polysaccharide having from 0.5 to 3.0 degrees of substitution and reducing the molecular weight of said polysaccharide before or after said depolymerizing provides a biodegradable scale inhibitor useful to prevent deposition of scale comprising, for example, calcium, barium, sulfate and salts thereof. The depolymerized carboxyalkyl polysaccharide is particularly useful in off shore oil production squeeze treatments and in the treatment of scale formed in industrial water treatment. |