The performance of polymeric and non-polymeric additives as iron oxide (rust) dispersants in aqueous system has been investigated. The polymers evaluated include: homopolymers of acrylic acid, aspartic acid; copolymers of acrylic acid:vinyl acetate; acrylic acid: hydroxylpropyl acrylate, maleic acid:sulfonated styrene; and terpolymer of acrylic acid:2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid:sulfonated styrene. Phosphonates (or nonpolymeric additives) tested include: hydroxyphosphono acetic acid, HPA; aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid), AMP; hydroxyethylidene 1,1-diphosphonic acid, HEDP; 2-phosphonobutane 1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid, PBTC; and polyamino polyether methylene phosphonic acid, PAPEMP. Based on the performance data, polymers effectiveness as iron oxide dispersants is: terpolymer > copolymer > homopolymer. Under similar experimental conditions, phosphonates exhibit poor performance as iron oxide dispersants. It has also been observed that presence of phosphonates exhibit antagonistic effect on the performance of polymers.