Technical Specifications
| Chemical Name | 2-Phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid |
|---|---|
| Common Name | PBTC |
| Molecular Weight | 270.13 g/mol |
| Structural Formula | C7H11O9P |
| Molecular Formula | C7H11O9P |
| Taste | ACIDIC |
| Boiling Point | 100°C |
| HSN Code | 29319090 |
| Refractive Rate | 1.28 |
| Classification | Organic ACID |
| Organic Acid Types | Phosphonic Acid |
| Inorganic Acid Types | Others |
| Grade | Industrial Grade |
| Purity | 50% |
| Application | Water Treatment and Other |
| Appearance | Clear to slightly yellow aqueous solution (typical commercial grade) |
| Active Content | Available in 40% and 50% active solutions; confirm the grade you need |
| CAS No | 37971-36-1 |
| pH (1% solution) | Acidic; exact value confirmed on the batch COA |
| EINECS No | 37971-36-1 |
| Other Names | Phosphonobutane Tricarboxylic Acid |
| Usage | Industrial |
| Melting Point | 100 |
| Storage | Cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight and strong oxidisers |
| Shelf Life | 12 months from date of manufacture in unopened packaging |
| Density | 1.28 Gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) |
| Solubility | Fully miscible with water |
| Packing | 65 kg and 250 kg HDPE drums |
| Raw Material | Phosphonobutane Tricarboxylic Acid |
| Minimum Order Quantity | 100 Kilograms |
|---|---|
| Payment Terms | Cash Advance (CA), Cash in Advance (CID), Cheque |
| Supply Ability | 10000 Kilograms Per Day |
| Delivery Time | 3 Days |
| Sample Available | Yes |
| Sample Policy | If order is confirmed we will reimburse the sample cost |
| Packaging Details | 65 KGS |
| Main Domestic Market | All India |
| Certifications | ISO-GMP |
PBTC is an organo phosphonic acid compound exhibiting excellent sequestration of metal ions at stoichiometric concentration and threshold inhibition of metal salt precipitation at substoichiometric concentrations The ability of PBTC to deflocculate or disperse solid particles combined with its temperature and hydrolytic stability makes it a versatile ingredient for applications requiring efficient metal ion like FeFe control.
If you run a cooling tower, boiler, or RO plant anywhere in India, you already know what hard water does to equipment over time. Scale builds up quietly on heat transfer surfaces, corrosion eats into pipework, and efficiency drops before anyone notices the utility bill creeping up. PBTC Chemical, short for Phosphonobutane Tricarboxylic Acid, is one of the more dependable phosphonates used to stop this early, and it is what we manufacture and supply at Aries Chemical from our facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.
PBTC (CAS No. 37971-36-1) is an organophosphonic acid built to control calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate scale, bind stray metal ions such as iron, and hold up under higher temperature and higher pH conditions that push older phosphonates like ATMP or HEDP past their limits. It is used across cooling towers, boilers, RO plants, and general industrial water treatment programs, and it blends easily with most other treatment chemicals in a formulation.
We supply phosphonates to water treatment formulators, OEMs, and industrial plants across India, and PBTC is one of the products we get asked about most often. Plants that have outgrown older scale inhibitors usually need something that performs at higher hardness and higher temperature without pushing up the treatment cost, and that is exactly where PBTC fits. Whether you are comparing PBTC against HEDP or ATMP for your next formulation, or you just need a reliable ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer who can ship in bulk, this page has what you need. For pricing, TDS, SDS, or a sample, reach out to our technical team directly and we will get back to you the same working day.
PBTC, or Phosphonobutane Tricarboxylic Acid, belongs to the organophosphonic acid family, a group of chemicals built around a carbon-phosphorus bond that makes them far more resistant to breakdown than older phosphate-based treatments. What sets PBTC apart within that family is its structure. It carries three carboxylic acid groups and one phosphonic acid group on a single butane backbone, and that combination gives it an unusually strong grip on metal ions in water.
In plain terms, this means PBTC does not just slow down scale, it interferes with the way scale-forming minerals crystallise in the first place. That property, combined with good thermal and hydrolytic stability, is why PBTC has become a standard component in water treatment formulations for cooling towers, boilers, and reverse osmosis systems across India, especially where water hardness or operating temperature rules out cheaper, older phosphonates.
It is worth being clear about what PBTC is not. It is not a biocide and will not control biological fouling on its own, and it is not a corrosion inhibitor in the way a film-forming amine is. What it does well is scale and deposit control, and it does that job at a lower dosage than most alternatives, which is usually the reason plants switch to it.
Scale forms when dissolved minerals like calcium and carbonate reach a concentration where they start crystallising out of solution onto the nearest available surface, usually the hottest surface in the system. PBTC interrupts that process through what is known as threshold inhibition. Even at very low dosage, far below the amount needed to actually bind every calcium ion in the water, PBTC molecules attach themselves to the tiny crystal nuclei as they start to form.
Once attached, PBTC distorts the growing crystal structure. Instead of forming smooth, hard deposits that stick to pipe walls and heat exchanger tubes, the minerals form irregular, soft particles that stay suspended in the water and get carried out with normal blowdown or circulation. This is called crystal distortion, and it is the main reason PBTC works at such low treatment levels.
On top of that, PBTC sequesters iron and other trace metal ions, keeping them dissolved instead of letting them precipitate out and stain or foul equipment surfaces. The combination of threshold inhibition, crystal distortion, and metal ion sequestration is what gives PBTC its reputation as a reliable, all-round scale control chemical rather than a single-purpose additive.
PBTC is one of the most widely used scale inhibitors in cooling water treatment. It keeps calcium carbonate from depositing on condenser tubes and fill media, which protects heat transfer efficiency and cuts down on cleaning cycles.
In boiler feedwater treatment, PBTC controls scale formation on tube surfaces where temperatures are highest and the risk of hard deposits is greatest. It is often used alongside oxygen scavengers and pH adjusters in a complete boiler treatment program.
Reverse osmosis membranes are sensitive to scaling from calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate and silica. PBTC based antiscalant dosing ahead of the membrane stage protects flux rates and extends membrane life, which is a direct cost saving for any RO operator.
Any equipment that relies on efficient heat transfer benefits from PBTC dosing. Cleaner surfaces mean better thermal performance and fewer unplanned shutdowns for descaling.
These industries deal with hard process water and high volumes of metal ion contamination. PBTC is used as a chelating and scale control agent to protect processing equipment and keep bleaching, dyeing and evaporation stages running consistently.
PBTC finds use in scale and corrosion control programs across fertilizer plants, general chemical processing units and oilfield water handling systems, wherever hard water and elevated temperature combine to threaten equipment life.
Large-volume cooling and process water systems in power generation, steel manufacturing and mining operations all rely on scale inhibitors like PBTC to keep circulating water systems clean and equipment running at design efficiency.
| Property | PBTC | HEDP | ATMP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium carbonate scale control | Very good | Good | Moderate |
| Iron and manganese control | Good | Weak | Weak |
| Performance in high-calcium water | Very good | Drops off fast | Moderate |
| High-temperature stability | Very good | Moderate | Weak |
| Chlorine / oxidizer resistance | Good | Weak | Weak |
| Biodegradability profile | Better than older phosphonates | Poor | Poor |
Store PBTC in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, strong oxidisers and incompatible materials. Keep drums sealed when not in use and avoid storage near open flame or extreme heat sources. Use standard PPE, including gloves and eye protection, when handling concentrated solution, and refer to the Safety Data Sheet for full handling and transport guidance before you place an order.
Every batch of PBTC we manufacture is produced under ISO 9001:2015 quality management systems and tested in-house before dispatch. We issue a Certificate of Analysis with every shipment, and Technical Data Sheets and Safety Data Sheets are available on request. If your procurement team needs documentation for vendor approval or import clearance, our technical team can put together whatever your compliance process requires.
There is no shortage of PBTC traders in India. What is harder to find is an actual manufacturer who picks up the phone, understands your water chemistry, and can back a quote with real batch documentation rather than a reseller markup.
Aries Chemical is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer based in Vadodara, Gujarat, and we supply water treatment chemicals to more than 40 industries across India. We are not a trading house repackaging someone else’s product. Because we manufacture in-house, we can offer competitive pricing on bulk orders, adjust packaging to your specification, and give you direct technical support from people who actually understand phosphonate chemistry, not a call centre reading from a script.
We supply TDS and SDS documentation with every order, support custom packaging for OEM and private label buyers, and can handle both domestic bulk orders and export shipments. If you are evaluating suppliers on price alone, ask for a sample and test it against what you are using now. That is usually the fastest way to see the difference.
What is PBTC Chemical?
PBTC, or Phosphonobutane Tricarboxylic Acid, is an organophosphonic acid used as a scale and corrosion inhibitor in industrial water treatment, mainly in cooling towers, boilers and RO plants.
What is the CAS number of PBTC?
The CAS number for PBTC is 37971-36-1.
What is PBTC used for?
PBTC is used to prevent calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate scale, control iron deposition, and support corrosion management in industrial water systems.
Is PBTC biodegradable?
PBTC has a better environmental profile than older phosphonates like ATMP, though it is not classified as readily biodegradable. We can share the relevant SDS data if this matters for your compliance requirements.
What dosage of PBTC is recommended?
Dosage depends on your water hardness, temperature and system design, so we do not publish a blanket figure. Share your water analysis with our technical team and we will recommend a starting dosage for your specific system.
Is PBTC suitable for cooling towers?
Yes, cooling towers are one of the most common applications for PBTC, where it controls scale on condenser tubes and fill media.
Can PBTC be used in RO systems?
Yes, PBTC based antiscalants are widely used ahead of RO membranes to prevent scaling and protect membrane life.
Is PBTC compatible with other water treatment chemicals?
Yes. PBTC blends well with polymers, dispersants, zinc salts and most biocides used in standard treatment programs.
What is the shelf life of PBTC?
Twelve months from the date of manufacture, provided it is stored unopened in the original packaging under recommended conditions.
How should PBTC be stored?
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space away from direct sunlight and strong oxidisers, with drums kept sealed when not in use.
What packing sizes are available?
We supply PBTC in 65 kg and 250 kg HDPE drums.
Is a TDS available for PBTC?
Yes, a Technical Data Sheet is available on request and ships with every order.
Is an SDS available for PBTC?
Yes, a Safety Data Sheet is provided with every shipment and is available on request before you order.
Do you supply bulk quantities of PBTC?
Yes, we regularly supply bulk orders to formulators, OEMs and large industrial plants, with tanker delivery available where needed.
Is PBTC suitable for high-temperature systems?
Yes, one of the main reasons plants choose PBTC over older phosphonates is its stability at higher operating temperatures.
What is the difference between PBTC and HEDP?
PBTC generally holds up better in high-calcium water, at higher temperatures, and against chlorine exposure than HEDP. HEDP still has its place in lower-severity applications where cost is the deciding factor.
How can I request a quotation?
Send us your required quantity, packing preference and, if possible, a basic water analysis, and our technical team will respond with pricing and lead time the same working day.
Looking for a reliable PBTC Chemical (Phosphonobutane Tricarboxylic Acid) manufacturer in India? Aries Chemical supplies high-quality, ISO 9001:2015 certified PBTC for cooling towers, boilers, RO plants and industrial water treatment applications across the country. Contact our technical team today for pricing, TDS and SDS documentation, bulk order quotes, or a sample for testing against your current supplier.
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Aries Chemicals is an ISO 9001:2015 certified water treatment and specialty chemicals company, delivering reliable and performance-driven chemical solutions to a wide range of industries.
