How can Barium Sulfate Scales be prevented?

Question

Is there any reaction between Barium Sulfate and a Phosphate such as Phosphoric Acid,Trisodium Phosphate or Complex Phospahtes such as Sodium Hexametaphosphate?

Answer 1

To prevent scales from forming a more reactive metal (than barium) must be present that will form a soluble compound. However, as barium is at the bottom of Group 2, only Group 1 metals are more reactive, but these will react with even oxygen in the air. Hence you can't prevent the scales from forming.

Answer 2

First, reduce the amount of sulfate present, second reduce the amount of barium possibly by chelation. The SHMP may help to complex with the barium, but that would require lab determination of its effectiveness, and this would be countered by cost. For large scale (no pun intended) projects, the chemical cost could be quite high.

In my field, oil well chemistry, little is done to remove the barium, probably because of its prevalence in the formation.