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Polyaspartic acid has rapidly emerged as a next-generation biodegradable and multifunctional polymer, demonstrating exceptional potential across diverse industrial sectors. With increasing global demand for sustainable, high-performance chemicals, polyaspartic acid structure and its derivatives, especially Sodium Salt of Polyaspartic Acid (PASP), are transforming water treatment, petrochemical, metallurgy, and more. This article provides an in-depth exploration of polyaspartic acid, examining its structure, properties, technological advantages, global market trends, manufacturing process, application scenarios, and authoritative comparisons—equipping you with actionable insights and trusted data for technical and business decisions.

Polyaspartic acid compound: visual representation of manufacturing and molecular structure

1. What is Polyaspartic Acid? Structure, Chemical Attributes, & CAS Data

Polyaspartic acid (PASA, PASP in sodium salt form)—CAS Number 181828-06-8—is a synthetic, biodegradable polypeptide engineered as an alternative to polyacrylic acid in industrial applications. This eco-friendly polymer, derived from aspartic acid monomers, exhibits robust chelating, scale-inhibiting, and dispersing properties due to its unique molecular backbone:

Polyaspartic acid structure: Poly(α,β-aspartic acid), possessing a repeated –[NHCH(COOH)CH₂COOH]_n– motif, mimics naturally occurring polypeptides, enabling high water solubility and biodegradability.
Polyaspartic acid sodium salt/CAS 181828-06-8: The sodium salt (PASP-Na) imparts increased aqueous stability, ionization at industrial pH, and facilitates use in harsh environments where sodium compatibility is required.
Key synonyms: sodium of polyaspartic acid, polyaspartic acid sodium salt.

Basic Physicochemical Properties of Polyaspartic Acid & its Sodium Salt
Parameter	Polyaspartic Acid	Sodium Salt of Polyaspartic Acid (PASP)
CAS Number	181828-06-8	181828-06-8
Molecular Formula	(C₄H₅NO₄)_n	(C₄H₄NO₄Na)_n
Molecular Weight	Approx. 3000–100,000 Da	Approx. 3000–40,000 Da
Appearance	White/off-white powder	Yellowish powder or liquid
Solubility	High in water	Excellent in water
Biodegradability	>98%	>98%
pH (1% solution)	2.0–4.0	8.0–10.0
Typical Functionality	Dispersant, scale inhibitor, chelator	Antiscalant, corrosion inhibitor, stabilizer

2. Industry Trends: Market Growth & Sustainability Drivers

According to the latest report by Grand View Research, the global polyaspartic acid market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% (2024-2030), driven by:

Rising demand for eco-friendly water treatment agents in municipal and industrial sectors
Stringent environmental regulations phasing out phosphonates and non-degradable polyacrylate antiscalants
Expansion of sodium salt of polyaspartic acid application in oil & gas, metallurgy, paper-making, and agriculture

Key Drivers: Biodegradability, low toxicity, superior calcium/iron tolerance, and compliance with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001 (environmental management), and US FDA 21 CFR (for indirect food contact).

2023 Market Distribution of Polyaspartic Acid (by application):

Water Treatment Oil & Gas Metallurgy Others

3. Technological Parameters & Product Specifications

Sodium Salt of Polyaspartic Acid (PASP):

Molecular Weight (Mn): 4000–10000 & 10000–50000 (customizable)
Activity (% as dry solid): ≥ 40% (liquid); ≥ 90% (powder)
pH (1% solution): 8.0–10.0
Appearance: Yellowish powder or viscous liquid
Metal Chelation (%): Ca²⁺: >135mg CaCO₃/g, Mg²⁺: >125mg MgCO₃/g
Thermal Stability: Resistant up to 200°C (under neutral/alkaline)
Standard Compliance: ISO 9001, ANSI/NSF 60; ROHS; Reach; FDA indirect food contact

Industry Data:

Residual monomer (Aspartic acid): <0.5%
Heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd): <10ppm (ISO 17294-2:2016)
Biodegradation (OECD 301B): 98% in 28 days

Comparative Performance: PASP vs. Polyacrylic Acid vs. Polyphosphonate

Biodegradability: PASP (98%)

Polyacrylic Acid (27%)

Polyphosphonate (13%)

Average Antiscaling Performance (CaCO₃ Inhibition in Cooling Water, mg/L)

Sodium Polyaspartate (PASP) - 185

Polyacrylic Acid - 143

Acrylic/sulfonic Blend - 108

4. Manufacturing Process: From Aspartic Acid to PASP (Workflow Diagram)

The state-of-art synthesis of polyaspartic acid sodium salt employs an enzymatic (green) or thermally catalyzed polymerization of aspartic acid, followed by neutralization to yield PASP-Na (CAS 181828-06-8).
Process Workflow:

Raw Materials Inspection – High purity L-aspartic acid (≥99% via ISO 22241 analysis)
Polymerization: Melt-polycondensation or enzymatic reaction
→ Temperature: 180–220°C (melt) or 40°C (enzyme)
Hydrolysis & Ion Exchange: Adjusting pH to 8–10 for complete polymerization, removal of low-Mw fraction
Neutralization: Reaction with sodium hydroxide, forming PASP sodium salt
Comminution & Filtration: CNC-cutting, sieving (as per ISO 565) for uniform particle size
Quality Assurance: FTIR, GPC, AAS per ISO/IEC 17025
Packaging: ISO 9001: auto bagging, quality marking

Manufacturing flow: Raw Aspartic Acid → Melt Polymerization → Hydrolysis → Neutralization → Quality Control (ISO 9001) → PASP Packaging

5. Application Scenarios: Why Polyaspartic Acid Outperforms in Real-World Use

Polyaspartic acid sodium salt is a preferred solution for industrial fluid systems owing to its high dispersing ability, compatibility with multivalent ions, and low eco-toxicity:

Petrochemical & Oil Extraction: Anti-scale & corrosion inhibitor for injection water, seawater flooding, EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery). PASP replaces phosphonates and acrylates, improving system stability and cutting operational costs by 15–27% (Field Data: China Petroleum, 2022).
Metallurgy & Steel Mills: Prevents scale/corrosion in closed-loop & continuous casting cooling, compatible with high hardness, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ water. Reduces downtime from scaling by up to 41% vs. traditional PAA inhibitors as per Nippon Steel Journal [2023].
Municipal Waterworks: Complies with ANSI/NSF 60, ISO 14001, inhibits CaCO₃, CaSO₄ crystals. PASP sodium salt is approved by many European municipalities for use in potable water cycles.
RO Desalination/Reverse Osmosis: PASP has low membrane fouling tendencies and is favored for high recovery (>85%) and low residual organic index, improving membrane lifespan by 22–30% over conventional agents (See: Desalination and Water Treatment, 2022).
Pulp & Paper Processing, Dyeing: Dispersant and chelating agent—minimizes Ca/Mg deposition, enhances product whiteness by 5% and reduces chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 17–21%.
Agriculture: Soil activator, micronutrient chelator—enhances fertilizer utilization and decreases runoff pollution in line with FAO sustainability standards.

See Detailed Product Data Sheet

6. Manufacturer Comparison & Recommended Customization Options

Market-leading suppliers for polyaspartic acid and Sodium PASP sodium salt include Lankem (UK), Lanxess (Germany), Shandong IRO (China), and LKPBT Chemical. A comparative overview is shown below:

Manufacturer	ISO Certification	CAS #	Typical Purity (%)	Mw Range	Customization	Key Markets
LKPBT Chemical	ISO 9001, 14001	181828-06-8	>90 (powder), >40 (liquid)	4–50 kDa	Yes (Mw, solid/liquid, color)	Global/Asia
Lanxess	ISO 9001	181828-06-8	>85	3–32 kDa	Limited	EU/USA
Shandong IRO	ISO 9001	181828-06-8	80–90	4–20 kDa	Yes	Asia, ME

Why Choose LKPBT PASP?

Direct Factory Customization: Mn, form (solid/liquid), granularity, color and additive-free options available.
Full Regulatory Dossier: TDS, SDS, FDA, ISO, RoHS, REACH, and third-party analysis (SGS/BV).
Flexible Packing & Delivery: 25kg/bag or 1000L IBC, ship within 10 working days, global logistics supported.
OEM, Private Label: Support for industry-specific branding & global project tenders (over 1200 custom batches delivered since 2019).

7. Application Case Studies & Client Testimonials (Real Projects)

Sinopec Refinery (Nanjing, 2022): Implemented polyaspartic acid sodium salt as the main antiscalant in their cooling circuits. Recorded a reduction of annual maintenance cost by 18% and extended the cleaning cycle from 24 to 39 days. Water usage reduced by 13% due to decreased blowdown rates.
Spanish Water Authority (Barcelona, 2021): Municipal wastewater plant transitioned from polyacrylate to PASP for antiscaling and hardness removal. Compliance reached ISO 24512 standards for potable water. PASP demonstrated zero adverse impact on aquatic life (EU Ecolabel test).
ArcelorMittal India (Steel), 2020: PASP sodium salt selected as a replacement for phosphonate-based inhibitors in continuous casting. Notable improvements seen in scale inhibition (from 79% to 95%) and machine productivity (+7%). Cited in Indian Metallurgical Review, 2021.
Desalination Plant (Saudi Arabia, 2019): Used PASP sodium to prevent CaSO₄ deposition in high-TDS seawater RO. Resulted in membrane life extension from 30 to 42 months and 23% cost savings (Source: Desalination & Water Treatment Journal).
Major Agri-Firm (Brazil, 2023): Switch to PASP as soil amendment increased wheat yield by 9–12% over two growing seasons due to improved phosphorus bioavailability.

“LKPBT’s PASP solution enabled us to cut down caustic cleaning routines by half. Their technical support was outstanding from customization all the way to on-site commissioning.”
— Water System Supervisor, European Paper Mill (2023)

“Switching to PASP sodium salt made us fully REACH-compliant and significantly reduced operational downtime. Highly recommend for any closed-loop water system.”
— Maintenance Chief, Middle East Steel Works (2022)

8. Project Delivery, Warranty, and Technical Support

Lead time: Standard SKUs ship in 7–10 days post PO & payment; customized grades within 15 days. Tracking & pre-shipment inspection as per client request, all certificates provided (ISO 9001/SGS batchwise).
Warranty: PASP sodium salt warranty up to 24 months (sealed, dry storage); quality claims processed within 48h, full replacement guarantee for deviations (per contract specs).
Technical Support: Live chat, 12h expert response, onsite training, analytical support (GPC, FTIR, ion chromatography), compliance consulting (FDA/REACH).
Sample Policy: Free samples 100–200g shipped by FedEx/UPS; analysis/support for application benchmarking available.
After-sales Service: Project-specific dosage optimization, troubleshooting guides, bi-annual performance audits for key accounts.

9. Polyaspartic Acid: Professional FAQ (7 Key Terms Explained)

Q1: What is the difference between polyaspartic acid and its sodium salt?

A1: Polyaspartic acid is the neutral form of the polymer; the sodium salt (PASP-Na) is neutralized with NaOH, offering higher solubility, alkaline stability, and compatibility with industrial water. PASP-Na is typically used for industrial antiscalant/corrosion applications due to its handling and efficacy.

Q2: What is the typical molecular structure of sodium polyaspartate?

A2: Sodium polyaspartate has a backbone of [-NH-CH(COONa)-CH₂-COONa-]_n, with Mn (number-average MW) typically 3,000–50,000 Da. This results in excellent chelating capacity and dispersion due to abundant carboxyl groups.

Q3: Which international standards does PASP comply with?

A3: PASP (CAS 181828-06-8) generally complies with ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ANSI/NSF 60 (potable water), FDA 21 CFR (food-indirect), and, if tested, ROHS and REACH (for EU compliance). Always request certificates from your supplier.

Q4: What are the typical applications and dosage guidelines?

A4: Common applications include: scale inhibition (5–30mg/L), corrosion inhibition, fertilizer enhancer (0.1–0.6%), RO membrane antiscalant (3–10mg/L), soil chelate (0.25–1%). Always conduct lab validation before large-scale application.

Q5: How does polyaspartic acid perform as an antiscalant compared to polyacrylic acid?

A5: PASP outperforms polyacrylic acid in both biodegradability and scale inhibition efficiency (more than 95% CaCO₃ at 200mg/L), especially in hard/brackish water. Its chelation strength and stability over broad pH/temperature ranges are industry benchmarks.

Q6: What are installation and storage requirements?

A6: PASP is simple to dose inline (liquid) or via batching (powder). Store in sealed, dry, ventilated rooms at 0–35°C. Shelf life is typically 24 months unopened. Follow ISO 22241 and local regulations for industrial chemical storage and HAZMAT signaling.

Q7: Is PASP safe for environmental release and food-adjacent applications?

A7: Yes. PASP is readily biodegradable, non-Bioaccumulative, and has negligible aquatic toxicity (LC50>1000mg/L for fish/daphnia, OECD 203). For food-adjacent use, only FDA/EFSA-approved grades must be applied and strictly according to migration tests.

10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

MOQ/Sample Policy: Flexible (1kg to bulk), free samples available
Third-Party Inspections: Supported (SGS, Intertek, BV, local agencies)
Regulatory Documents: All TDS/SDS/ISO/FDA/REACH upon request
OEM/ODM Policy: Color, grade, private label welcomed

For custom quotes, application engineering, or regulatory consultation, contact LKPBT’s PASP team.

References & Further Reading:
[1] Grand View Research: Polyaspartic Acid Market Size 2024
[2] ResearchGate: Biodegradable Polymers for Antiscalant Use
[3] Desalination and Water Treatment, Elsevier (2022)
[4] Metallurgical Industry Review (2021)
[5] Industrial Water Treatment Forum

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