{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:58:47Z","timestamp":1787029127869,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":58,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778803200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan","award":["BR24992921"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["BR24992921"]}]},{"award":["BR24992921"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["BR24992921"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05tyne317","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This article examines the scientific basis for using humic acids for the chemical stabilization of mineralized water prior to reverse osmosis. The need to develop alternative approaches to water pretreatment is due to the limited effectiveness of traditional antiscale reagents at high mineralization, as well as their potential environmental risks and the likelihood of secondary contamination of water systems. The article focuses on the mechanisms of interaction between humic acids and Ca2+ and Mg2+ hardness ions, which are mediated by complexation with carboxyl and phenolic functional groups. It is demonstrated that humic stabilization differs from classical softening and demineralization in that it is aimed not at the complete removal of dissolved salts, but at reducing the activity of ions involved in the formation of carbonate deposits. The potential advantages of this approach for reducing the scale-forming potential of water, improving the stability of reverse osmosis membranes, and extending inter-flushing intervals are discussed. The technological limitations associated with residual organic load, possible membrane fouling, the need to control total organic carbon, color and stability of the filter medium, as well as a pilot test of the proposed approach are considered.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules31101677","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T14:19:29Z","timestamp":1778854769000},"page":"1677","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Selective Binding of Hardness Ions by Humic Sorbents for Prevention of Carbonate Scaling in Reverse Osmosis Systems"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"31","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5724-2279","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alma Khassenovna","family":"Zhakina","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"LLP \u201cInstitute of Organic Synthesis and Coal Chemistry of the Republic of Kazakhstan\u201d, Karaganda 100008, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5940-7097","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Almat Maulenuly","family":"Zhakin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LLP \u201cInstitute of Organic Synthesis and Coal Chemistry of the Republic of Kazakhstan\u201d, Karaganda 100008, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2242-486X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yevgeniy Petrovich","family":"Vassilets","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LLP \u201cInstitute of Organic Synthesis and Coal Chemistry of the Republic of Kazakhstan\u201d, Karaganda 100008, Kazakhstan"},{"name":"Department of Chemical Technology and Ecology, Faculty of Metallurgy and Mechanical Engineering, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau 101400, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8996-4572","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Oxana Vasilievna","family":"Arnt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LLP \u201cInstitute of Organic Synthesis and Coal Chemistry of the Republic of Kazakhstan\u201d, Karaganda 100008, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zainulla","family":"Muldakhmetov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LLP \u201cInstitute of Organic Synthesis and Coal Chemistry of the Republic of Kazakhstan\u201d, Karaganda 100008, Kazakhstan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18507","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2023.e18507","article-title":"Water scarcity in agriculture: An overview of causes, impacts and approaches for reducing the risks","volume":"9","author":"Ingrao","year":"2023","journal-title":"Heliyon"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1007\/s43621-024-00631-6","article-title":"The blue revolution: Sustainable water management for a thirsty world","volume":"6","author":"Onyena","year":"2025","journal-title":"Discov. 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