Safe and Controlled Polyphosphate Antiscalants in Modern Water Treatment Systems

In modern water treatment systems, ensuring that water filtration equipment operates stably, durably, and safely is a top priority for both manufacturers and consumers. Among all factors, controlling the release of phosphate-based antiscalants is crucial for both water quality and equipment longevity.

01 Pain Points of Solid Antiscalants: Unstable Dissolution and “Milky Water”

Most antiscalants on the market are solid slow-release types, such as traditional siliphos-type products. The dissolution rate varies significantly between different brands and behaves differently under different water conditions, making it difficult to achieve precise control.

After being submerged for several days or even months, solid antiscalants may emulsify and produce a cloudy white appearance in the water—a phenomenon known in the industry as “milky water.” This can clog filters, reduce water filter performance, and cause consumers to misunderstand or fear phosphate-based materials.

From the perspective of healthy drinking water, unstable dissolution also makes it difficult to maintain the ideal polyphosphate release level during water treatment. Therefore, water filter media manufacturers increasingly require antiscalant materials with more predictable performance.

02 International Practice: Stable Slow-Release Performance of Siliphos Antiscalants

In the field of solid antiscalant research, polyphosphate products from U.S. supplier PSS (one of the major sources of siliphos technology) are widely recognized in the global water purification industry. Their main advantages include:

1. Extremely slow and controllable dissolution

2. Almost no dissolution when water flow stops

3. Even after one year of soaking, only a very thin surface layer dissolves

4. No emulsification or “milky water” issues

5. Stable performance in RO (reverse osmosis) pretreatment and household water treatment systems

Due to their stability and safety, siliphos polyphosphate antiscalant balls have become the preferred material for many household water filter and cartridge manufacturers. While internationally certified brands are often expensive, finding a supplier with equal quality and better cost-performance is essential.

Aquavow’s slow-release antiscalant balls are currently the only product on the market capable of producing uniform 1–12 mm phosphate antiscalant spheres. They dissolve slowly in flowing water, do not dissolve when water is static, have a lifespan of over two years, and provide stable performance at an affordable price. For users seeking a healthy drinking water experience, slow-release technology ensures safer dosing and more stable water quality.

03 Scientific Testing: Ensuring Safe Use of Polyphosphates

To ensure the safety of antiscalant materials, filter cartridge manufacturers typically conduct several types of testing:

1) Polyphosphate Content (P₂O₅)

Tested using food-grade standards:
GB 5009.256-2016 (IC)
Measured as PO₄³⁻ in mg/kg.

2) Phosphate Release in Water

Tested using international standards:
EPA 300.0 (Ion Chromatography)
Provides precise measurement of trace PO₄³⁻ and other inorganic anions.

3) Solid Polyphosphate Composition

Analyzed using XRD or XRM to examine crystal structure and confirm:

• Component stability

• Absence of impurities

• Predictable dissolution performance

These methods are essential for assessing high-quality polyphosphate and siliphos materials and are a critical part of water treatment system manufacturing.

04 Why Release Control Is So Important?

For reverse osmosis systems and household water filters:

        If release is too fast → concentration rises → users worry about safety

        If release is too slow → insufficient antiscaling → equipment becomes prone to scaling and wear

High-quality antiscalant materials must release slowly, steadily, and predictably. This ensures:

1. Compliance with safe drinking water standards

2. Consistent manufacturing quality for filter manufacturers

3. Long-term reliability of water treatment systems

As a result, many water treatment products now use more stable polyphosphate and siliphos antiscalant balls to achieve stronger antiscaling performance while maintaining higher safety.

If you are a water filter manufacturer or water treatment product developer seeking stable, safe, and high-quality polyphosphate antiscalant materials, we are your trusted supplier and cost-effective alternative.

Contact us today to enhance your water treatment systems and filter performance.