Preparation and thermal analysis of synthetic malachite CuCO3·Cu(OH)2

The synthesis of malachite CuCO₃·Cu(OH)₂ or Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂ was studied through titrations of copper(II) salt solutions with a solution of sodium carbonate at different temperatures. The precipitates were characterized by TG, IR and chemical analysis. The composition varies depending on thepH of the solution and the temperature. Purer malachite was synthesized by simple mixing of a solution of copper(II) nitrate or sulfate with a solution of sodium carbonate at 50°C.The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of synthetic malachite was described by eitherR ₃ orA _m(m=1.2–1.4) law, according to TG analysis, both isothermal and nonisothermal. The Arrhenius parameters determined using three different integral methods showed the kinetic compensation effect, which is correlated to the working temperature interval analyzed.The authors thank Mr. H. Takemoto for analyzing kinetics of the thermal decomposition of synthetic malachite.