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.