Natural organics such as tannins and lignins, and processed natural organics such as lignosulfonates, are used for control of both fouling and scaling. As dispersants, they have their greatest effectiveness when used to disperse mud and silt. As scale control materials, they coat particles making any precipitate formed less adherent.

Even though lignosulfonates are still fairly frequently used as deposit control agents, the use of tannins, starch and carboxymethyl cellulose is limited due to advances in polymer technology.