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 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 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 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 magnesium hydroxoaluminate hydrates from aqueous solution with ammonium hydroxide: Precipitate compositions and coprecipitation mechanisms

Magnesium hydroxoaluminate hydrates were coprecipitated from different mixed metal cation solutions at Mg/Al₂ ratios from 1 to 4 by ammonium hydroxide. The coprecipitations were monitored by potentiometric titration and the final precipitate compositions were examined by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, infra-red spectrophotometry and thermal analysis. The process of coprecipitation was similar to that for coprecipitation with sodium hydroxide but large excess of ammonium hydroxide was required for complete reaction at pHs from about 8 to 10.

• At Mg/Al₂ = 1, the main phase was probably Mg(H₂O)_h [Al(OH)₄]₂;
• at Mg/Al₂ = 2, the main phase was probably Mg₂(H₂O)_h [Al₂(OH)₁₀];
• at Mg/Al₂ = 4, the main phase was probably (MgOH₄) (H₂O)^h [Al₂(OH)₁₀].

     

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 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 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 dissolution and crystallisation of amphoteric metal hydroxides from sodium hydroxide solutions: Ionic equilibria,crystalline phases and crystallisation mechanisms

The dissolution and recrystallisation of beryllium, zinc, cadmium and tin (II) hydroxides and chromium (III), iron(III), aluminium, scandium, yttrium, gallium and indium hydroxides, from sodium hydroxide solutions of concentrations C = 1 to 20 M at ambient temperatures, are surveyed. The different inic equilibria in metal hydroxide-sodium hydroxide systems are examined: the phases crystallising from different sodium hydroxide solutions are tabulated and crystallisation mechanisms are analysed.     

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.     

Spontaneous precipitation of calcium silicate hydrate in aqueous solutions

Calcium silicate hydrates (C‐S‐H) are very important not only for their contribution to the development of cement and concrete properties but also for use as fillers and in silicate glasses. In the present work, the thermodynamics and the kinetics of the spontaneous precipitation of C‐S‐H from aqueous solutions were investigated over the pH range 10‐12 at 25 °C. The thermodynamic driving force was calculated taking into consideration all equilibria involved in the supersaturated solutions. In the range of the solution supersaturation values examined the precipitation occurred spontaneously, with the exception of the series of experiments done at pH 12.0, where induction times preceded the appearance of the precipitate. The rates were measured at constant pH as a function of the solution supersaturation and were found to depend strongly on the solution supersaturation, pH and on the total calcium to total silicate molar ratio in solution. Fit of the kinetics results in a power law relating rates of precipitation with respect to C‐S‐H precipitated, suggested a surface diffusion controlled mechanism for the formation of C‐S‐H. The precipitated solids did not show significant morphological differences at different pH values. From the induction times preceding the spontaneous precipitation at pH 12.0, a value of 30 mJm^‐2 was calculated for the surface energy of C‐S‐H. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The precipitation of sparingly-soluble alkaline-earth metal and transition metal oxalates and mixed metal oxalates from aqueous solution: Ionic equilibria,crystalline phases and precipitation mechanisms

The precipitations of alkaline-earth metal and transition metal oxalates, from aqueous solution and from excess alkali metal oxalate solution, are surveyed: also the coprecipitations of transition metal oxalates together with alkaline-earth metal oxalates. The ionic equilibria that influence these precipitations are examined, the crystalline precipitate phases are tabulated and precipitation mechanisms are analysed.     

The precipitation of sparingly-soluble acid,neutral and basic metal salts from aqueous solution: Ionic equilibria at different pHs,precipitate phases and precipitation mechanisms

The precipitations of the sparingly-soluble acid, neutral and basic salts of the divalent cations beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, manganese (II), iron (II), cobalt (II), nickel (II), copper (II), zinc, cadmium, mercury (II), tin (II) and lead (II) with the inorganic anions sulphate, chromate, molybdate, monohydrogen phosphate, phosphate, and carbonate (from supersaturated aqueous solutions) are surveyed. The different types of ionic equilibria (cation hydrolysis, anion hydrolysis, ion-pair formation) that may influence these precipitations, at different pHs and ionic concentrations, are examined. The crystalline phases precipitated at different pHs are tabulated and the precipitation mechanisms (at different pHs) are analysed.     

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.     

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.     

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 of transition metal oxalate powders from aqueous solution. Crystal numbers and final sizes

The precipitation of manganous, ferrous, cobalt, nickel and copper oxalate hydrates was studied from equivalent solutions of concentrations from 0.001 to 0.3 M at pHs 7 to 6, by optical microscopy and other methods. Crystals growth started after induction periods: the precipitations were heterogeneously nucleated at low supersaturations and homogeneously nucleated at medium to high supersaturations. The crystal numbers of the final precipitates depended on the number of nuclei (and crystallites) formed during the induction periods. At medium to high supersaturations, crystal numbers increased with increasing initial metal oxalate complex ion concentrations according to the relation. N = N₁C_mox^β, where β was 5. The N values increased in the order Mn ≪ Fe < Co < < Ni < Cu. The final crystal lengths, in this range, then decreased with increasing metal oxalate complex ion concentrations according to the relation l_fin = l₁/C_mox^γ, where γ was 1.3. For precipitations from solution of any concentration, smaller crystals were generally obtained in the precipitates of the metal oxalate of lower solubility; nickel oxalate precipitations were the exception to this.     

The precipitation of barium chromate powders from aqueous solution at different pHs: Nucleation,final crystal numbers and sizes

Barium chromate precipitations were studied from equivalent aqueous solutions of initial overall metal salt concentrations from 0.00013 to 0.010 M at ambient temperature and at pHs from 8 to 3. At pHs from 8 to 5, precipitation mainly occurred through homogeneous nucleation: the reciprocal induction periods (and nucleation rates) and the crystal numbers generally decreased with reduction of pH but the values at any effective mean metal salt concentration increased appreciably with increasing acidity. Presumably, both M⁺⁺A and M⁺⁺HA⁻ species were taking part in the nucleation process. – At pHs below 5, heterogeneous nucleation predominated in most precipitations: the crystal numbers and nucleus numbers at any effective metal salt concentration increased with reduction of pH in these systems. Presumably, more active sites for heterogeneous nucleation were developed.     

The precipitation of lead sulphate from aqueous and aqueous alcohol solutions: Nucleation,final sizes and morphology

The precipitation of lead sulphate was studied from 0.0001 to 0.01 M aqueous solutions (supersaturations 3 to 600) and from 20% aqueous ethanediol, methanol and ethanol solutions, in polypropylene beakers, at ambient temperature: the experimental techniques were conductivity measurements and optical microscopy. The precipitations were heterogeneously nucleated at low supersaturations and homogeneously nucleated at intermediate to high supersaturations. New crystal morphologies generally developed at some what higher supersaturations in the aqueous alcohol systems. The final crystal lengths at first increased with increasing initial metal salt concentration and then decreased with this parameter; the largest crystals at any concentration were obtained from solutions in which lead sulphate solubility was highest. The critical supersaturations (for the onset of homogeneous nucleation) increased from 36 (in water) to 50 (in 20% aqueous ethanol): the surface energies for the formation of nuclei correspondingly increased from 90 to 110 mJ m⁻² in good agreement with the Nielsen-Söhnel relation. The nucleation and crystal growth processes are taking in an aqueous environment of similar water activity to that of the bulk solutions.