"Scale formation occurs when mineral solids accumulate on the interior surfaces of water lines and containers. Scaling is a high-cost and hazardous problem in various industries. Scale formation prevention, control, and protection using smart organic/polymeric materials is a method for control however because of the increasing environmental awareness and strict environmental regulations use of traditional toxic antiscalants is highly restricted and the use of environmentally friendly (green) antiscalants is a rising interest topic. There are however different environmentally friendly alternatives of natural and biological origin that can be used for scale prevention including plant extracts, natural polymers, synthetic green smart compounds, carbohydrates, amino acids, and oleochemicals. Additionally researchers have begun focusing on scale formation prevention using environmentally green alternatives for metals or minerals from scale formation to mimic industrial processes."-- Provided by publisher.