An aqueous thermodynamic model for Ca2+−SO 3 2− ion interactions and the solubility product of crystalline CaSO3·1/2H2O

The solubility of CaSO₃·1/2H₂O(c) was studied under alkaline conditions (pH>8.2), in deaerated and deoxygenated Na₂SO₃ solutions ranging in concentration from 0.0002 to 0.4M and in CaCl₂ solutions ranging in concentration from 0.0002 to 0.01M, for equilibration periods ranging from 1 to 7 days. Equilibrium was approached from both the over- and the under-saturation directions. In all cases, equilibrium was reached in <1 days. The aqueous Ca²⁺–SO ₃ ^2– ion interactions can be satisfactorily modeled using either ion-association or ion-interaction aqueous thermodynamic models. In the ion-association model, the log K°=2.62±0.07 for Ca²⁺+SO ₃ ^2– CaSO ₃ ⁰ . In the Pitzer ion-interaction model, the binary parameters (⁰) and (¹) for Ca²⁺–SO ₄ ^2– were used, and the value of (²) was determined from the experimental data. As expected given the strong association constant, the value of (⁰) was quite small (about –134). We feel a combination of the two models is most useful. The logarithm of the thermodynamic equilibrium constant (K°) of the CaSO₃·1/2H₂O(c) solubility reaction (CaSO₃·1/2H₂O(c)Ca²⁺+SO ₃ ²⁺ +0.5H₂O) was found to be –6.64±0.07.     

Raman spectroscopic study of the sulfite‐bearing minerals scotlandite,hannebachite and orschallite: implications for the desulfation of soils

The structures of the naturally occurring sulfite‐bearing minerals scotlandite, hannebachite and orschallite have been studied by Raman spectroscopy. Raman bands are observed for scotlandite PbSO₃ at 935, 880, 622 and 474 cm⁻¹ and are assigned to the (SO₃)²⁻ν₁(A₁), ν₃(E), ν₂(A₁) and ν₄(E) vibrational modes, respectively. For hannebachite (CaSO₃)₂·H₂O these bands are observed at 1005, 969 and 655 cm⁻¹ with multiple bands for the ν₄(E) mode at 444, 492 and 520 cm⁻¹. The Raman spectrum of hannebachite is very different from that of the compound CaSO₃·2H₂O. It is proposed, on the basis of Raman spectroscopy, that in the mineral hannebachite, the sulfite anion bonds to Ca through the sulfur atom. The Raman spectrum of the mineral orschallite Ca₃[SO₄](SO₃)₂·12H₂O is complex resulting from the overlap of sulfate and sulfite bands. Raman bands at 1005 cm⁻¹, 1096 and 1215 cm⁻¹ are assigned to the (SO₄)²⁻ν₁ symmetric and ν₃ asymmetric stretching modes. The two Raman bands at 971 and 984 cm⁻¹ are attributed to the (SO₃)²⁻ν₃(E) and ν₁(A₁) stretching vibrations. The formation of sulfite compounds in nature offers a potential mechanism for the removal of sulfates and sulfites from soils. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.