Thermal analysis of hydrotalcite synthesised from aluminate solutions

The aluminate hydrotalcites are proposed to have either of the following formulas: Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₂(CO₃ ²⁻)·xH₂O or Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₂(CO₃ ²⁻, SO₄ ²⁻)·xH₂O. A pure hydrotalcite phase forms when magnesium chloride and aluminate solutions are mixed at a 1:1 volumetric ratio at pH 14. The synthesis of the aluminate hydrotalcites using seawater results in the formation of an impurity phase bayerite. Two decomposition steps have been identified for the aluminate hydrotalcites: (1) removal of interlayer water (230 °C) and (2) simultaneous dehydroxylation and decarbonation (330 °C). The dehydration of bayerite was observed at 250 °C. X-ray diffraction techniques determined that the synthesis of aluminate hydrotalcite with seawater and a volumetric ratio of 4.5 results in very disordered structures. This was shown by a reduction in the mass loss associated with the removal of interlayer water due to the reduction of interlayer sites caused by the misalignment of the metal-hydroxyl layers.     

Kinetic parameters of unsaturated polyester resin modified with poly(ε -caprolactone)

The mineral sabugalite (HAl)_0.5[(UO₂)₂(PO₄)]₂⋅8H₂O, has been studied using a combination of energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, dynamic and controlled rate thermal analysis techniques. X-ray diffraction shows that the starting material in the thermal decomposition is sabugalite and the product of the thermal treatment is a mixture of aluminium and uranyl phosphates. Four mass loss steps are observed for the dehydration of sabugalite at 48°C (temperature range 39 to 59°C), 84°C (temperature range 59 to 109°C), 127°C (temperature range 109 to 165°C) and around 270°C (temperature range 175 to 525°C) with mass losses of 2.8, 6.5, 2.3 and 4.4%, respectively, making a total mass loss of water of 16.0%. In the CRTA experiment mass loss stages were found at 60, 97, 140 and 270°C which correspond to four dehydration steps involving the loss of 2, 6, 6 and 2 moles of water. These mass losses result in the formation of four phases namely meta(I)sabugalite, meta(II)sabugalite, meta(III)sabugalite and finally uranyl phosphate and alumina phosphates. The use of a combination of dynamic and controlled rate thermal analysis techniques enabled a definitive study of the thermal decomposition of sabugalite. While the temperature ranges and the mass losses vary due to the different experimental conditions, the results of the CRTA analysis should be considered as standard data due to the quasi-equilibrium nature of the thermal decomposition process. The online version of the original article can be found at     

Dehydration behavior of FGD gypsum by simultaneous TG and DSC analysis

The dehydration behaviors of FGD gypsums from three power plants were investigated at N₂ atmosphere (autogenous and negligible partial pressure of water, P_{\textH 2 \textO} P_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}} ) in non-isothermal and isothermal condition. The dehydration of gypsum proceeded through one step, i.e., CaSO₄·2H₂O → γ-CaSO₄ (γ-anhydrite) or two steps, i.e., CaSO₄·2H₂O → CaSO₄·0.5H₂O (hemihydrate) → γ-CaSO₄ depending on temperature and P_{\textH 2 \textO} P_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}} . The discrepancies of three FGD gypsums on dehydration behavior were very likely due to the different crystalline characteristics (size and habit) and impurities, such as fly ash and limestone. Experimental data of non-isothermal analysis have been fitted with two ‘model-free’ kinetic methods and those of isothermal analysis have been fitted with Avrami and linear equation. The apparent empirical activation energies (E _a) suggest that the transition from gypsum to hemihydrate is mainly controlled by nucleation and growth mechanism, while the transition from gypsum to γ-anhydrite is mostly followed by phase boundary mechanism.     

Controlled rate thermal analysis of hydromagnesite

The reaction of magnesium minerals such as brucite with CO₂ is important in the sequestration of CO₂. The study of the thermal stability of hydromagnesite and diagenetically related compounds is of fundamental importance to this sequestration. The understanding of the thermal stability of magnesium carbonates and the relative metastability of hydrous carbonates including hydromagnesite, artinite, nesquehonite, barringtonite and lansfordite is extremely important to the sequestration process for the removal of atmospheric CO₂. This work makes a comparison of the dynamic and controlled rate thermal analysis of hydromagnesite and nesquehonite. The dynamic thermal analysis of synthetic hydromagnesite proves that dehydration takes place in two steps at 135 and 184°C, dehydroxylation at 412°C and decarbonation at 474°C. Controlled rate thermal analysis shows the first dehydration step is isothermal and the second quasi-isothermal at 108 and 145°C, respectively. In the CRTA experiment both water and carbon dioxide are evolved in an isothermal decomposition at 376°C. CRTA technology offers better resolution and a more detailed interpretation of the decomposition processes of magnesium carbonates such as nesquehonite via approaching equilibrium conditions of decomposition through the elimination of the slow transfer of heat to the sample as a controlling parameter on the process of decomposition. Constant-rate decomposition processes of non-isothermal nature reveal partial nesquehonite structure.     

Nonisothermal decomposition kinetics of [CoC<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>·2.5H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O]<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>

The authors present their results concerning the decomposition in air of the homopolynuclear coordination compound [CoC₂O₄·2.5H₂O] _n . In the temperature range 20–300 °C, the heating curves TG, DTG and DTA allowed to evidence three decomposition steps. The kinetic analysis was performed on the second step which proved to be the only workable one. The application of nonlinear regression procedure shows that this is a complex process consisting in three successive steps. The checking of the mechanism and corresponding kinetic parameters for quasi-isothermal data (T = 150 °C) shows that the obtained results could be used for prediction of the thermal behaviour of the investigated compound in both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions.     

Conventional and controlled rate thermal analysis of nesquehonite Mg(HCO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)(OH)·2(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)

The understanding of the thermal stability of magnesium carbonates and the relative metastability of hydrous carbonates including hydromagnesite, artinite, nesquehonite, barringtonite and lansfordite is extremely important to the sequestration process for the removal of atmospheric CO₂. The conventional thermal analysis of synthetic nesquehonite proves that dehydration takes place in two steps at 157, 179°C and decarbonation at 416 and 487°C. Controlled rate thermal analysis shows the first dehydration step is isothermal and the second quasi-isothermal at 108 and 145°C. In the CRTA experiment carbon dioxide is evolved at 376°C. CRTA technology offers better resolution and a more detailed interpretation of the decomposition processes of magnesium carbonates such as nesquehonite via approaching equilibrium conditions of decomposition through the elimination of the slow transfer of heat to the sample as a controlling parameter on the process of decomposition. Constant-rate decomposition processes of non-isothermal nature reveal partial collapse of the nesquehonite structure.     

Rapid synthesis,kinetics and thermodynamics of binary Mn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> · H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The non-isothermal kinetics of dehydration of AlPO₄·2H₂O was studied in dynamic air atmosphere by TG–DTG–DTA at different heating rates. The result implies an important theoretical support for preparing AlPO₄. The AlPO₄·2H₂O decomposes in two step reactions occurring in the range of 80–150 °C. The activation energy of the second dehydration reaction of AlPO₄·2H₂O as calculated by Kissinger method was found to be 69.68 kJ mol⁻¹, while the Avrami exponent value was 1.49. The results confirmed the elimination of water of crystallization, which related with the crystal growth mechanism. The thermodynamic functions (ΔH*, ΔG* and ΔS*) of the dehydration reaction are calculated by the activated complex theory. These values in the dehydration step showed that it is directly related to the introduction of heat and is non-spontaneous process.     

A study of the reaction Na2SO4·10H2O→Na2SO4+10H2O in the temperature range 0 to 25°C

Thermogravimetry was used to obtain data on the isothermal rate of dehydration and hydration of the reaction Na₂SO₄·10H₂O→Na₂SO₄+10H₂O in the temperature range 10 to 25°C. The thermodynamic functions, ΔH, ΔG and ΔS were calculated and compared with data in the literature. The dissociation pressures of Na₂SO₄·10H₂O at temperatures in the range 0 to 25°C were measured in a volumetric dissociation apparatus. The results obtained were compared with those using thermogravimetry and the accuracy of the two techniques was assessed.     

Study on thermal decomposition of copper(II) acetate monohydrate in air

The thermal decomposition of copper(II) acetate monohydrate (CuAc₂·H₂O) under 500 °C in air was studied by TG/DTG, DTA, in situ FTIR and XRD experiments. The experimental results showed that the thermal decomposition of CuAc₂·H₂O under 500 °C in air included three main steps. CuAc₂·H₂O was dehydrated under 168 °C; CuAc₂ decomposed to initial solid products and volatile products at 168–302 °C; the initial solid products Cu and Cu₂O were oxidized to CuO in air at 302–500 °C. The copper acetate peroxides were found to form between 100 and 150 °C, and the dehydration of these peroxides resulted in the presence of CuAc₂·H₂O above 168 °C. The initial solid products were found to be the admixture of Cu, Cu₂O, and CuO, not simply the single Cu₂O as reported before. Detailed reactions involved in these three steps were proposed to describe the complete mechanism and course of the thermal decomposition of CuAc₂·H₂O in air.     

Kinetics of formation of barium tungstate in equimolar powder mixture of BaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The formation of Barium monotungstate (BaWO₄) particles in equimolar powder mixtures of BaCO₃ and WO₃ was examined under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions upon heating in air at 25–1200 °C, using thermogravimetry. Concurrence of the observed mass loss (due to the release of CO₂) to the occurrence of the formation reaction was evidenced. Accordingly, the extent of reaction (x) was determined as a function of time (t) or temperature (T). The x–t and x–T data thus obtained were processed using well established mathematical apparatus and methods, in order to characterize nature of reaction rate-determining step, and derive isothermal and non-isothermal kinetic parameters. Moreover, the reaction mixture quenched at various temperatures (600–1,000 °C) in the reaction course was analyzed by various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, for material characterization. The results obtained indicated that the reaction rate may be controlled by unidirectional diffusion of WO₃ species across the product layer (BaWO₄), which was implied to form on the barium carbonate particles. The isothermally determined activation energy (118–125 kJ/mol) was found to be more credible than that (245 kJ/mol) determined non-isothermally.     

Phase transformation in spodumene–diopside glass

In situ developments of platelike spodumene–diopside grains were obtained by controlled devitrification of the complex system Li₂O–CaO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ glass. The crystallization mechanisms of spodumene–diopside glass were measured by isothermal and non-isothermal processes using classical and differential thermal analysis techniques. The Avrami constant n was 2.0–2.1, indicating two-dimensional crystal growth and platelike grains. The crystalline phases precipitated first were high-quartz_s.s., then transformed to β-spodumene and diopside. The Flexural strength, fracture toughness and thermal shock resistance (in 20°C water) increased from 145 MPa, 1.3 MPa m^1/2, 800°C (pure spodumene) to 197 MPa, 2.9 MPa m^1/2 and 920°C (spodumene–diopside) with low thermal expansion coefficient (from 3∼9·10^–7 to 11.8·10^–7 K^–1). This mean in situ developments of platelike spodumene–diopside grains reinforced the low thermal expansion coefficient glass-ceramics.     

Evolved gas analyses on a mixed valence copper(I,II) complex salt with thiosulfate and ammonia by in situ TG-EGA-FTIR and TG/DTA-EGA-MS

Thermal decomposition of a mixed valence copper salt, Na₄[Cu(NH₃)₄][Cu(S₂O₃)₂]₂·0.5NH₃ (1) prepared from pentahydrates of sodium thiosulfate and copper sulphate of various molar ratios in 1:1 v/v aqueous ammonia solution, has been studied up to 1,000 °C in flowing air by simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis coupled online with quadrupole mass spectrometer (TG/DTA-MS) and FTIR spectrometric gas cell (TG-FTIR), in comparison. Compound 1 releases first but very slowly some of the included ammonia till 170 °C, then simultaneously ammonia (NH₃) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) from 175 to 225 °C, whilst the evolution of SO₂ from thiosulfate ligands continues in several overlapping stages until 410 °C, and is escorted by explicit exothermic heat effects at around 237, 260, 358 and 410 °C. The former two exothermic DTA-peaks correspond to the simultaneous degradation and air oxidation processes of excess thiosulfate anions not reacted by formation of copper sulfides (both digenite, Cu_1.8S and covellite, CuS, checked by XRD) and sodium sulfate, while the last two exothermic peaks are accompanied also by considerable mass gains, as the result of two-step oxidation of copper sulfides into various oxosulfates. The mass increase continues further on until 580 °C, when the sample mass begins to decrease slowly, as a continuous decomposition of the intermediate copper oxosulfates, indicated also by re-evolution of SO₂. At 1,000 °C, a residual mass value of 64.3% represents a stoichiometric formation of Cu^IIO and anhydrous Na₂SO₄.     

The role of the cation in the oxygen isotopic exchange in crystalline sulfate salt hydrates

The oxygen isotopic exchange during dehydration and decomposition of five sulfate salt hydrates (CoSO₄·6H₂O, NiSO₄·7H₂O, ZnSO₄·7H₂O, CaSO₄·2H₂O, Li₂SO₄·H₂O) was studied in detail by temperature programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD-MS) in a supersonic molecular beam (SMB) inlet mode. Crystals of the ¹⁸O-enriched salts were grown and the detailed desorption steps of the various gaseous products released during dehydration and decomposition of these compounds were recorded. The desorption patterns confirmed the known characteristic stepwise dehydration of these salts, where regardless of the crystalline structure and composition, in all the salts (excluding the Li and Ca sulfates) a major group of n ? 1 loosely bounded water of crystallization molecules (out of total of n molecules in the fully hydrated form) are released at adjacent temperatures in a typical low temperature range (<200 °C), while the last, most strongly bounded water molecule, consistently desorbs at relatively higher temperatures (240 < T < 440 °C). Interestingly, it is established that the oxygen isotopic exchange occurs exclusively between that latter, most strongly bound water molecule, and the salt anion. Remarkably, the results point out that the exchange process is mostly of solid-solid nature. Finally, the results point out that the probability of the isotopic exchange increases with the increment in the desorption temperature of the last dehydration step, i.e. with the bond strength in the monohydrate, between the last water molecule of crystallization and the cation.     

Untersuchung der thermischen Zersetzung von Aluminium-dodekawolframatosilicat

Investigation on the Thermal Degradation of Aluminium-12-Tungstosilicate The dehydration of aluminium-12-tungstosilicate AlH[SiO₄W₁₂O₃₆] · 29 H₂O gives the anhydrous salt at 440°C. By means of X-ray heating patterns, thermal analysis, and i.r. spectroscopy the formation of the new phase 1/2 Al₂O₃ · SiO₂ · 12 WO₃ (I) at 500°C is observed, stable at room temperature. Above 800°C from I tetragonal W₃, Al₂(WO₄)₃, and amorphous SiO₂ are formed. Amorphous SiO₂ crystallizes to high-temperature cristobalite at 1000°C. High-resolution ²⁷Al NMR (MAS-technique) is used to determine the coordination number of aluminium in the different phases.     

Kinetics of hematite chlorination with Cl2 and Cl2 + O2: Part I. Chlorination with Cl2

Preliminary tests of the chlorination of two iron oxides (wüstite and hematite) in various chlorinating gas mixtures were performed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under non-isothermal conditions. Wüstite started to react with chlorine from about 200 °C generating ferric chloride and hematite as the final reaction products. The presence of a reducing and oxidizing agent in the chlorinating gas mixtures influenced the chlorination reactions of both iron oxides, during non-isothermal treatment, only at temperatures higher than 500 °C.The chlorination kinetics of hematite with Cl₂ have been studied in details between 600 and 1025 °C under isothermal chlorination. The values of the apparent activation energy (E_a) were about 180 and 75 kJ/mol in the temperature ranges of 600–875 and 875–1025 °C, respectively. The apparent reaction order with respect to Cl₂ was found to be 0.67 at 750 °C. Mathematical model fitting of the kinetics data was carried out to determine the most probable reaction mechanisms.     

A Thermal and Structural Study On Lanthanum Hexacyanocobaltate(III) Pentahydrate, La[Co(CN)6]⋅5H2O

Thermal and structural changes of lanthanum hexacyanocobaltate(III) pentahydrate, La[Co(CN)₆]⋅5H₂O were investigated by means of thermal analysis, visible electronic spectra, IR, powder X-ray diffraction, EXAFS and TG-MS. The dehydration of La[Co(CN)₆]⋅5H₂O proceeded reversibly through three steps and steps corresponded to the losses of H₂O, 3H₂O and H₂O, and the enthalpy changes for these steps were 51.3, 211.0 and 38.7 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. After the dehydration, the colour of the anhydride changed from white to blue around 290°C and an abrupt mass loss occurred at 350°C. The colour change seems to be attributable to the change of coordination geometry around the Co ions from an octahedral structure to a tetrahedral one. LnCoO₃ was obtained as a final product by heating the sample to 1000°C. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Controlled rate thermal analysis of sepiolite

Controlled rate thermal analysis (CRTA) technology offers better resolution and a more detailed interpretation of the decomposition processes of a clay mineral such as sepiolite via approaching equilibrium conditions of decomposition through the elimination of the slow transfer of heat to the sample as a controlling parameter on the process of decomposition. Constant-rate decomposition processes of non-isothermal nature reveal changes in the sepiolite as the sepiolite is converted to an anhydride. In the dynamic experiment two dehydration steps are observed over the ~20–170 and 170–350 °C temperature range. In the dynamic experiment three dehydroxylation steps are observed over the temperature ranges 201–337, 337–638 and 638–982 °C. The CRTA technology enables the separation of the thermal decomposition steps.     

Some thermodynamic functions and kinetics of thermal decomposition of NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>MnPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> · H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O in nitrogen atmosphere

The ammonium manganese phosphate monohydrate (NH₄MnPO₄ · H₂O) was found to decompose in three steps in the sequence of: deammination, dehydration and polycondensation. At the end of each step, the consecutive one started before the previous step was finished. The thermal final product was found to be Mn₂P₂O₇ according to the characterization by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Vibrational frequencies of breaking bonds in three stages were estimated from the isokinetic parameters and found to agree with the observed FTIR spectra. The kinetics of thermal decomposition of this compound under non-isothermal conditions was studied by Kissinger method. The calculated activation energies E_a are 110.77, 180.77 and 201.95 kJ mol⁻¹ for the deammination, dehydration and polycondensation steps, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters for this compound were calculated through the kinetic parameters for the first time.     

Thermal decomposition of natural iowaite

The thermal decomposition of natural iowaite of formula Mg₆Fe₂(Cl,(CO₃)_0.5)(OH)₁₆·4H₂O was studied by using a combination of thermogravimetry and evolved gas mass spectrometry. Thermal decomposition occurs over a number of mass loss steps at 60°C attributed to dehydration, 266 and 308°C assigned to dehydroxylation of ferric ions, at 551°C attributed to decarbonation and dehydroxylation, and 644, 703 and 761°C attributed to further dehydroxylation. The mass spectrum of carbon dioxide exhibits a maximum at 523°C. The use of TG coupled to MS shows the complexity of the thermal decomposition of iowaite. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dehydration process of rhodium sulfate crystalline hydrate

The dehydration of the rhodium salt [Rh(H₂O)₆]₂(SO₄)₃·5H₂O was studied by means of thermogravimetry in the temperature range 300–460 K. The kinetics of dehydration (the ligand substitution process) was studied under non-isothermal conditions. A model-free method was used to calculate the activation energy and analyze the process steps; a non-linear regression method was applied to calculate the kinetic parameters of the multistage dehydration reactions. The features of the dehydration kinetics could be explained by the condensation process.