The coprecipitation of magnesium chromium hydroxide powders from aqueous solution: Precipitate compositions and coprecipitation mechanisms

Magnesium chromium (III) hydroxides were coprecipitated at ambient temperature from different mixed metal cation solutions — at C_Mtot = 0.1 M and Mg/Cr₂ ratios varying from 1 to 4 — with sodium hydroxide solution. The coprecipitations were monitored by potentiometric (pH) titration and the final precipitate compositions were examined by chemical analysis, i.r. spectrophotometry and thermal analysis. Generally, microcrystalline chromium(III) hydroxide was first precipitated at pH about 5; this material then redissolved on further addition of hydroxyl ion to form hydroxochromate(III) anion and magnesium chromium hydroxide coprecipitates were then formed continuously (at OH/Cr ratios from 4 to 10) at pHs from 9.5–10 to about 11. The coprecipitates from Mg/Cr₂ = 1 systems was predominately magnesium hydroxochromate hydrate. The coprecipitates from Mg/Cr₂ = 2 to 4 systems were mixture or solid solutions of magnesium hydroxochromate hydrate with increasing amounts of magnesium hydroxide. The ionic equilibria involved in different coprecipitations are discussed.     

The coprecipitation of magnesium hydroxide aluminium hydroxide powders from aqueous solution with sodium hydroxide: Precipitate compositions and coprecipitation mechanisms

Magnesium aluminium hydroxides were coprecipitated from different mixed metal cation solutions — at total C_M = 0.1 M and Mg/Al₂ ratios from 1 to 6 — with sodium hydroxide solution at ambient temperature, with different pre-ageing conditions for the aluminium hydroxide pre-precipitate. The coprecipitations were monitored by potentiometric (pH) titration and the final precipitate compositions were examined by chemical analysis, infrared spectrophotometry and thermal analysis. Magnesium hydroxide was coprecipitated onto completely recrystallised aluminium hydroxide as a simple mixture. Generally, with no to three days pre-ageing, microcrystalline aluminium hydroxide was first precipitated at pH about 4; this then partially redissolved on further addition of sodium hydroxide (to form hydroxoaluminate anion) and magnesium aluminium hydroxide coprecipitates were formed continuously at pHs from 8.0–8.7 to 12.0–12.5. Their compositions were similar to the magnesium hydroxoaluminate hydrates formed by direct precipitation from high pH sodium hydroxoaluminate solutions.      

The coprecipitation of magnesium nickel hydroxide solid solutions from aqueous solution: Precipitate compositions and precipitation mechanisms

Magnesium nickel hydroxides (solid solutions) were coprecipitated from different mixed metal cation solutions (overall concentration 0.1 M) and from hydroxide solution (0.1 M). The course of different coprecipitations was monitored by potentiometric (pH) titrations. Final Coprecipitate compositions were determined by chemical analysis, infra-red spectrophotometry and thermal analysis. The ionic equilibria involved in different coprecipitations and the precipitation mechanisms are discussed.     

The coprecipitation of calcium aluminium hydroxide (calcium hydroxoaluminate hydrate) powders from aqueous solution with sodium hydroxide: Precipitate compositions and percipitation mechanisms

Calcium aluminium hydroxides were coprecipitated from different mixed metal cation solutions — at total C_M = 0.1 M and Ca/Al₂ ratios from 1 to 4 — with sodium hydroxide solution at ambient temperature. The coprecipitations were monitored by potentiometric (pH) titration and the final coprecipitate compositions were examined by chemical analysis, infra-red spectrophotometry and thermal analysis Generally, microcrystalline aluminium hydroxide was first precipitated at pH about 4; this then redissolved on further addition of sodium hydroxide to form hydroxoaluminate anion and polyanion and calcium aluminium hydroxide coprecipitates were formed continuously at pHs from about 9 to above 12. Their compositions were similar to the calcium hydroxoaluminate hydrates formed by direct precipitation from high pH sodium hydroxoaluminate solutions. At Ca/Al₂ ratio = 1, the main phase was probably Ca₂(H₂O)_h[Al₂(OH)₄]₂ with some Al(OH)₃; At Ca/Al₂ ratio = 2, the main phase was probably Ca₂(H₂O)_h[Al₂(OH)₁₀] dehydrating to Ca₂[Al₂O(OH)₈]; At Ca/Al₂ ratios = 3–4, the main phase was Ca₂(H₂O)_h[Al₂(OH)₁₀] with increasing amounts of Ca₄(H₂O)_h(OH)₄[Al₂(OH)₁₀] and 5–10 percent adsorbed or post-precipitated Ca(OH)₂.     

The coprecipitation of magnesium aluminium hydroxocarbonate powders from aqueous solution: Precipitate compositions and coprecipitation mechanisms

Magnesium aluminium hydroxocarbonate hydrates were coprecipitated from mixed metal nitrate solutions, at total C_M = 0.2 M and Mg/Al₂ = 1 ratio, with four sodium hydrogen carbonate-sodium carbonate solutions (of pH 8.1 to 11.5) at ambient temperature. The course of precipitation was monitored by potentiometric (pH) titration, and the compositions of the primary and final precipitates were determined by chemical analysis, infrared spectrophotometry and X-ray diffraction. Precipitation generally occurred through three stages, primary precipitation (of low CO₃ aluminium hydroxocarbonates) at low pH with evolution of carbon dioxide, their dissolution by complexing to form hydroxocarbonatoaluminate anions and then secondary precipitation of the final coprecipitate at higher pHs. The final product from coprecipitation by sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (pH 8.1) was mainly the magnesium hydroxocarbonatoaluminate ‘MAHC I’; the final products from coprecipitation by sodium hydrogen carbonate-sodium carbonate solutions (pH 9.4 and 10.3) were ‘MAHC I’/‘MAHC II’ mixture and ‘MAHC II’/‘MAHC I’ mixture whereas the final product from coprecipitation by sodium carbonate solution (pH 11.5) was a complex mixture if ‘MAHC II’ with ‘MAHC I’ and ‘MAHC III’;

• ‘MAHC I’ was probably Mg₂[Al₄(OH)₁₀(CO₃)₃] · hH₂O,
• ‘MAHC II’ was probably Mg[Al₂(OH)₄(CO₃)₂] · h H₂O whereas
• ‘MAHC III’ was probably Mg[Al₂(OH)₆CO₃] · h H₂O.

     

The coprecipitation of zinc aluminium hydroxides (refractory-, absorbent-, and catalyst precursors) from aqueous solution with ammonium hydroxide: Precipitate compositions and coprecipitation mechanisms

Zinc aluminium hydroxide hydrates were coprecipitated from different mixed cation solutions at Zn/Al₂ ratios from 1/2 to 4/1. The coprecipitations were monitored by potentiometric titrations and the final coprecipitate compositions were examined by chemical analysis and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction and preliminary thermal analysis. The product from Zn/Al₂ = 1/2 solution was amorphous: at Zn/Al₂ = 1/1.5, the main phase (after drying at 95 °C) was a zinc hydroxoaluminate Zn[Al(OH)₄]₂ together with some gibbsite: at Zn/Al₂ = 1, the main phase was probably a solid solution (of Zn[Al(OH)₄]₂ with Zn₂[Al₂(OH)₁₀]) together with Zn₂[Al₂(OH)₁₀]: at Zn/Al₂ = 2, the main phase was a mixture of Zn₂[Al₂(OH)₁₀] with (ZnOH)₄ [Al₂(OH)₁₀] and some gibbsite: at Zn/Al₂ = 4, the main phase was (ZnOH)₄ [Al₂(OH)₁₀] with some zinc hydroxide.     

The precipitation of magnesium hydroxoaluminate hydrate powders from sodium hydroxoaluminate solutions: Precipitate phases and precipitation mechanisms

Magnesium hydroxoaluminate hydrates were precipitated from different sodium hydroxoaluminate and hydroxoaluminate-hydroxide solutions at ambient temperature, at C_Al = 0.1 M, OH/Al ratios = 4–9 and XS OH/Al ratios = 1–6. The precipitations were monitored by potentiometric (pH) measurements while the final precipitate compositions were examined by chemical analysis, infra-red spectrophotometry and thermal analysis. At solution OH/Al ratio = 4, the main precipitate phase at 20°C was Mg(H₂O)_n[Al(OH)₄]₂ admixed with some Al(OH)₃; at solution OH/Al ratio = 5, the main phase was Mg₂(H₂O)₄[Al₂(OH)₁₀]; at solution OH/Al ratio = 7, the main phase was Mg₄(H₂O)_n(OH)₄[Al₂(OH)₁₀] while at solution OH/Al ratio = 9, the main phase was Mg₆(H₂O)_n(OH)₈[Al₂(OH)₁₀] admixed with some Mg(OH)₂. These hydrates were dehydrated at 60–100°C probably to the compounds Mg₂[Al₂O₃(OH)₄], Mg₄(OH)₄[Al₂O₃(OH)₄] and Mg₆(OH)₈[Al₂O₃(OH)₄], respectively.     

The precipitation of aluminium hydroxocarbonates powders from aqueous solution: Precipitate compositions and precipitation mechanisms

A series of aluminium hydroxocarbonate hydrates were prepared by precipitation from aluminium nitrate solution, with five sodium hydrogen carbonate-sodium carbonate solutions of different pH, at ambient temperature. The course of precipitation was monitored by pH measurement and the final precipitate compositions were determined by chemical analysis, infra-red spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. Precipitation generally occurred through three stages, primary precipitation of materials with low carbonate content at low pH with evolution of carbon dioxide, their dissolution to form hydroxcarbonato anions and then secondary reprecipitation of the final products at higher pH. These materials were mixtures of polyhydroxoaluminium carbonate hydrates of general composition Al_n(OH)_3n-2CO₃ · hH₂O (where n = 2, 4, 6 and h = 6–8); their CO₃ content increased with increasing pH and carbonate anion content of the precipitant solution.     

The precipitation of calcium hydroxoaluminate hydrate powders from sodium hydroxoaluminate solutions: Precipitate phases and precipitation mechanisms

Calcium hydroxoaluminate hydrates were precipitated from different sodium hydroxoaluminate and hydroxoaluminate-excess hydroxide solutions at ambient temperature (at C_Al = 0.1 to 0.3 M and at XS OH/Al = 0 to above 8). The precipitations were monitored by potentiometric (pH) measurements. Precipitate morphologies were examined by optical microscopy and precipitate compositions were determine by chemical analysis, infra-red spectrophotometry and thermal analysis. Generally at OH/Al ratios of 4 to 4.5 (XS OH/Al = 1 to 1.5), the compound 2 CaO · · Al₂O₃ · 8 H₂O (C₂AH₈) was precipitated with some aluminium hydroxide; then at OH/Al ratios of 5 to above 11 (XS OH/Al = 2 to above 8), the compound 2 CaO · Al₂O₃ · 8 H₂O was precipitated with increasing amounts of the compound 4 CaO · Al₂O₃ · 13 H₂O (C₄AH₁₃).     

The precipitation of barium hydroxoaluminate hydrate powders from sodium hydroxoaluminate solutions: Precipitate phases and precipitation mechanisms

Barium hydroxoaluminate hydrates were precipitated from different sodium hydroxoaluminate solutions at 20 °C; C_Al varied from 0.1 to 0.5 M and initial Ba/Al₂ ratios ( = excess OH/Al ratios) varied from 1 to 7. Precipitate compositions were determined by chemical analysis, infra-red spectrophotometry and thermal analysis. The compound BaO · Al₂O₃ · 7 H₂O was precipitated at initial Ba/Al₂ ratios of one to well above two while the compound 2 BaO · Al₂O₃ · 5 H₂O was only precipitated over a narrow range of concentrations. The compound Ba(OH)₂ · 8 H₂O was precipitated from solutions of high hydroxide and barium ion concentrations. The ionic equilibria and precipitation mechanisms in different solutions are discussed.     

The coprecipitation of Magnesium Nickel Oxalate Dihydrate Powders (solid solutions) from aqueous solution: Precipitate compositions and Cporecipitate Mechanisms

The coprecipitation of magnesium nickel oxalate dihydrates from mixed metal cation solutions was monitored by conductivity measurements. A series of coprecipitates was then prepared from 0.2 M solutions with Mg contents varying from 0.2 to 0.9 total metal cation and their compositions and structures studied by chemical analysis, infra-red spectrophotometry, thermogravimetric analysis and detailed differential calorimetry. The coprecipitates with upto 20 percent Mg content were solid solutions with structures similar to nickel oxalate dihydrate, the coprecipitates with 20 to 80 percent Mg content were probably mixed solid solutions while the coprecipitates with over 80 percent Mg content were solid solutions with structures similar to magnesium oxalate dihydrate. The ionic equilibria in supersaturated magnesium nickel oxalate solutions were analysed and mechanisms are proposed for coprecipitations from solutions of different Mg/(Mg + Ni) ratios.     

The precipitation and hydrothermal crystallisation of alkaline-earth. Metal aluminosilicate hydrates from aqueous solution: Crystalline phases and precipitation and recrystallisation mechanisms

The preparations, precipitations and recrystallisations of magnesium and calcium aluminosilicate hydrates, from aqueous suspensions of microcrystalline silica, aluminium hydroxide (and oxohydroxide) and magnesium (calcium) hydroxides at ambient temperatures to 400 °C, are surveyed. The phases reported in systems of different Mg(Ca)/(Al + Si) and Al/(Al + Si) composition ratios are tabulated and precipitation and recrystallisation mechanisms are proposed.     

The nucleation and precipitation of nickel ammonium sulphate crystals from aqueous solution

A precipitation study has been made with nickel ammonium sulphate produced by mixing aqueous solutions of its constituent salts. Rates of nucleation, as indicated by the induction period, were measured for both agitated and non-agitated systems over the temperature range 0–35 °C. The nucleation rate increases with increases in agitation and temperature but supersaturation has the dominant effect, as predicted by classical nucleation theory. However, attempts to analyse the results in accordance with classical theory were not entirely successful, but it is shown how the assumption of (a) a variation of crystal surface energy with temperature and (b) the influence of heterogeneous nucleation can account for the discrepancies.     

Seeded batch crystallization of ammonium aluminum sulfate from aqueous solution

Seed crystals of ammonium aluminum sulfate ((NH₄)Al(SO₄)₂··12H₂O) were grown in aqueous solution by cooling. The temperature of a crystallizer was lowered with no control by circulating cooling water through the jacket. It fell in an exponential manner. The effects of seed amount and size on the product crystal size distribution were examined. The product crystals obtained were of narrow and uni-modal size distribution with suppressed secondary nucleation if seed crystals were loaded more than a critical value. The critical value was determined and well compared with previously reported values for other material systems. This crystallization technique does not need any prior knowledge of the kinetics of crystal growth and nucleation. It is simple and robust, and can be easily applied to an existing crystallizer without installing any additional control systems.     

Characteristics of nickel ammonium sulphate crystals precipitated from aqueous solution

The main factors affecting the characteristics of precipitated nickel ammonium sulphate hexahydrate crystals from aqueous solution have been investigated. Over the range 20–35 °C, the crystal median size increases with temperature, but decreases with supersaturation. The size distribution is relatively unaffected by temperature, but becomes narrower at high supersaturations. The yield of crystalline precipitate is greatly increased when non-stoichiometric ratios of reactants are employed due to the sharp decrease in the equilibrium solubility.     

The rapid precipitation of magnesium hydroxide from aqueous solutions: Analysis of nucleation and crystal growth kinetics,final nucleus numbers and primary crystal sizes

The studies of the rapid precipitation of magnesium hydroxide, from aqueous solutions of different concentrations by sodium, calcium and ammonium hydroxides, are analysed. The kinetics of nucleation and microcrystallite formation during the induction periods and the kinetics of crystal growth (onto the microcrystallites) to the final primary crystals are examined; the high final nucleus numbers and the sub-microscopic sizes of the final primary crystals are discussed according to Nielsen's theories.     

Solubility data of trisodium citrate hydrates in aqueous solution and crystal‐solution interfacial energy of the pentahydrate

In this paper, the solubility of trisodium citrate dihydrate and trisodium citrate pentahydrate in water was experimentally determined. From solubility data, it was found that the relationship between trisodium citrate dihydrate and trisodium citrate pentahydrate is enantiotropic with a transition temperature at 315.4±1.0 K. Different hydrates can be isolated safely by controlling the crystallization temperature. The induction periods of trisodium citrate pentahydrate in aqueous solution were measured at different temperatures. The crystal–solution interfacial energy was calculated by using classical nucleation (CL) theory, mononuclear (MN) and polynuclear (PL) mechanisms through the relationship between induction period and supersaturation. It was found that the interfacial energy values calculated by using the CL theory and the MN model are nearly the same while interfacial energy calculated by PN model are about 40% higher. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The precipitation of alkaline-earth metal polymetaphosphate hydrate powders from aqueous solution. Nucleation and crystal growth processes,final precipitate compositions and crystal sizes

The precipitation of barium, strontium, calcium and magnesium polymetaphosphate hydrates was studied from aqueous solutions of initial metal salt concentrations from 0.001 to 3 M at 20 °C; equivalent sodium polymetaphosphate solutions were added to the alkaline-earth metal chloride solutions. Precipitate compositions were determined by chemical analysis, paper chromatography, potentiometric analysis, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis and infra-red spectrophotometry; final crystallite morphologies and sizes were studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. Nucleation rates and nucleus numbers (at the end of the induction periods) were very high; crystal numbers varied from 10¹⁴ to 10¹⁵ at the critical concentrations to above 10¹⁷ per 1. solution. Crystal growth rates were also very high and varied as the fourth power of the initial metal salt concentration. High molecular-weight metal polymetaphosphate hydrates were precipitated from the more dilute solutions (0.001 to 0.025 M) while increasing amounts of the more soluble intermediate and low molecular-weight products were precipitated from the more concentrated solutions. Washing with cold water removed the tri- and tetralinear and cyclic phosphate products. The magnesium salts were not precipitated even from 3 M aqueous solutions. The precipitates from aqueous (NaPO₃(I))_n (n = 12) solutions had the compositions (BaP₂O₆ · 2.5 H₂O)₆, (SrP₂O₆ · 3 H₂O)_n and (CaP₂O₆ · 4 H₂O)_n while the magnesium salt precipitate from 20 percent aqueous acetone solution had the composition (MgP₂O₆ · 4 H₂O)_n, the precipitate n values varied from 19 to 13. The precipitates from aqueous (NaPO₃(II))_n (n = 20) solutions contained 0.5n to n additional adsorbed water molecules; these precipitate n values varied in turn from 40 to 26. The final precipitate powders consisted of ‘spherules’ of highly microcrystalline or amorphous polymer glass; the spherule diameters were about 0.2 μm at the critical concentrations and decreased to below 0.05 μm with increasing solution concentrations.     

Periodic crystallisation of magnesium hydroxide: effect of additives and gel

Effect of additives on the periodic crystallisation of magnesium hydroxide is investigated. The dependence of the concentration ageing and pH value of the gel on periodic crystallisation of magnesium hydroxide is also investigated. Velocity constant, spacing coefficient, and the flocculation value are reported. The experimental observations have been accounted.     

Morphology and characterization of ammonium bichromate crystals grown from aqueous solutions

The morphology of ammonium bichromate single crystals grown from aqueous solutions by solvent evaporation method at temperatures between 22 and 56 °C is investigated. It is found that the crystal morphology changes monotonically with an increase in growth temperature. Chemical etching is used to characterize the as-grown crystals.