Strategic Positioning of the Top 10 Companies in the Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals Market in 2025

Boilers are the backbone of many industrial processes, providing essential steam and hot water for power generation, manufacturing, and heating. However, the longevity and efficiency of boilers depend mostly on the quality of water used. Impurities in water, such as dissolved minerals, gases, and organic matter, can lead to corrosion, scaling, and fouling, which can reduce boiler efficiency, increase maintenance costs, and even cause system failures. In order to combat these issues, boiler water treatment chemicals are employed.

Boiler water treatment chemicals play a critical role in maintaining water quality, preventing scale formation, controlling corrosion, and removing impurities. In this blog, we will delve into the types of boiler water treatment chemicals, their functions, and the leading companies manufacturing them.

Importance of Boiler Water Treatment

Effective boiler water treatment is crucial for the following reasons.

• Preventing Scale Formations: Minerals like magnesium and calcium can precipitate and form scale on boiler surfaces, reducing heat transfer efficiency and increasing fuel consumption.
• Controlling Fouling: Accumulation of suspended solids and biological growth can foul boiler surfaces, impeding water flow and heat transfer.
• Inhibiting Corrosion: Dissolved gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, can corrode boiler components, leading to leaks and system failures.

Types of Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals 

Boiler water treatment chemicals are designed to address specific challenges in boiler systems. They are categorized based on their functions.

Alkalinity Builders: Maintaining the proper pH level in boiler water is crucial to prevent corrosion. Alkalinity builders, such as sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate, are used to increase the pH of the water, making it less acidic and reducing the risk of corrosion.

Oxygen Scavengers: Oxygen is one of the primary causes of corrosion in boiler systems. Oxygen scavengers, such as sodium sulfite, hydrazine, and carbohydrazide, are used to remove dissolved oxygen from the water. These chemicals react with oxygen to form harmless compounds, thereby preventing corrosion.

Corrosion Inhibitors: Corrosion inhibitors, such as amines, silicates, and molybdates, form a protective layer on metal surfaces, preventing corrosive substances from attacking the boiler material. They are particularly effective in preventing acidic and alkaline corrosion.

Scale Inhibitors: Scaling occurs when dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium precipitate out of the water and form deposits on boiler surfaces. Scale inhibitors, including phosphates, polymers, and chelating agents, prevent the formation of these deposits by keeping the minerals in solution.

Functions of Boiler Water Treatment Chemicals

Preventing Scale Formation: To prevent scale formation in a boiler, scale inhibitors are added to the boiler water, which typically includes compounds like phosphates, phosphonates, and polymers that work by disrupting the crystal formation of minerals like calcium and magnesium, preventing them from depositing on the boiler surfaces as hard scale.

Controlling Corrosion: The boiler water treatment chemicals are used to prevent corrosion as they protect metal surfaces from corrosive substances, extending the lifespan of the boiler. The main heroes here are oxygen scavengers, as they remove dissolved oxygen from boiler water, which is the main contributor to corrosion.

Maintaining Water Quality: Boiler water treatment chemicals are used to maintain water quality within a boiler system by preventing corrosion, scale buildup, and other issues by removing dissolved oxygen, adjusting pH levels, and inhibiting the formation of mineral deposits through the addition of chemicals like oxygen scavengers, alkalinity builders, and scale inhibitors.

Major Market Participants

1. Suez Water Technologies & Solutions

Headquarters: Paris, France

Established: 1954

SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions, now part of Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, is a water technology company that designs and operates technologies and solutions for smart and sustainable cities, focusing on water and wastewater treatment, and resource recovery. Suez's products are widely used in power generation, manufacturing, and other industries. SUEZ has been active in the Indian water and wastewater market since 1978 and has an Indian subsidiary since 1986.

2. Ecolab Inc.

Headquarters: Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

Established: 1923

Ecolab Inc. is a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services, serving diverse industries like food, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing, with a focus on food safety, clean environments, and resource optimization. Ecolab develops and provides services, technology, and systems for water treatment, purification, cleaning, and hygiene in various applications. They cater to a wide range of industries, including foodservice, food processing, hospitality, healthcare, and industrial markets.

3. Thermax Limited

Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Established: 1966

Thermax Limited is an Indian multinational engineering conglomerate headquartered in focused on providing sustainable solutions in energy and environment, including clean air, clean energy, and clean water. Thermax offers integrated solutions for heating, cooling, power generation, water treatment, air pollution control, and chemicals, with a focus on environmental sustainability. Thermax offers a comprehensive range of boiler water chemicals designed to enhance system efficiency and longevity.

4. Acuro Organics Limited

Headquarters: New Delhi, India

Established: 2011

Acura Organics Limited is a prominent specialty chemicals manufacturing company known for producing and supplying chemicals for various industries, including water treatment, biocides, disinfectants, and more, serving both domestic and international markets. The company is known for offering a diverse portfolio of water treatment chemicals, including oxygen scavengers, alkalinity boosters, and anti-scalants, tailored to meet various industry requirements.

5. Buckman Laboratories

Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Established: 19454

Buckman Laboratories addresses microbial issues in the pulp and paper industry. Buckman Laboratories is a global, ISO-certified, privately held specialty chemical company that develops and manufactures chemicals for various industries, including pulp and paper, water treatment, leather, coatings, plastics, and more. Buckman operates in over 90 countries and has 10 manufacturing sites worldwide.

Conclusion

Boiler water treatment chemicals are essential for maintaining the efficiency and longevity of boiler systems. By preventing scaling, corrosion, and fouling, these chemicals help reduce operational costs and improve system performance. As industries continue to prioritize efficiency and sustainability, the demand for advanced boiler water treatment solutions is expected to grow, driving innovation in this field. Proper selection and application of these chemicals are essential to ensure optimal boiler performance and extend the lifespan of the equipment.