2-phosphono-1,2,4-butanetricarboxylic acid?

[evalm2010]

I was hoping someone can answer my question. Before I went BBB the pool store told me to put 2 1/2 16 oz. Biogard Scale Inhibitor into my pool. My guess is because my CH was pretty high. My trusty TF-100 measured my CH after I put the scale inhibitor in at 630. The ingredient is 2-phosphono-1,2,4-butanetricarboxylic acid. Does someone know what this is supposed to do? Reduce scaling? I am not about to buy this again I'm just curious.

Thanks.

 

[257WbyMag]

From what I was able to gather, it looks to be a metal sequestrant. Sequestrants are used to bind up metals in the water to prevent scaling and staining.

 

[smallpooldad]

This might help, I think it is the same chemical:

http://www.chem.unep.ch/irptc/sids/OECDSIDS/37971361.pdf

Seems ok for scaling, will degrade in sunlight but how fast you might want to ask Chem Geek. CyA at 60 -80 ppm might help slow sunlight breakdown but again only a test would show.

Good Luck.

 

[evalm2010]

Thank you both for your quick replies. It is not cheap. One treatment cost me $50 bucks. I wonder if it helped at all.