The dehydroxylation of basic aluminum sulfate: An infrared emission spectroscopic study

The tridecameric aluminum polymer AlO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₁₂]⁷⁺ was prepared by forced hydrolysis of Al³⁺ up to an OH/Al molar ratio of 2.2. Upon addition of sulfate, the tridecamer crystallized as the monoclinic basic aluminum sulfate Na_0.1AlO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₁₂](SO₄)_3.55. The dehydroxylation of the basic aluminum sulfate has been studied by Fourier transform in-situ infrared emission spectroscopy over a temperature range of 200° to 750°C at 50°C intervals. The spectrum is characterized by the sulfate ν₁ (1024 cm⁻¹), ν₃ doublet (1117 and 1168 cm⁻¹) and the ν₄ doublet (568 and 611 cm⁻¹) modes. Furthermore, minor bands assigned to nitrate are observed. Upon heating from ≈350° to 400°C major changes are observed, especially in the bandwidth and band intensities. The bands in the hydroxyl stretching region due to the Al₁₃ group disappear, whereas the bands around 1050 cm⁻¹ display various changes in bandwidths, intensities and positions associated with the dehydration and dehydroxylation of the basic sulfate and the changing of the structure into an aluminum oxosulfate. The nitrate bands diminish upon heating.