Precipitation of Alkaline-Earth Metal Silicate Hydrates from Aqueous Solution: Ionic Equilibria,Crystalline Phases and Precipitation Mechanisms

The precipitations of magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium and zinc silicate hydrates from aqueous solutions and suspensions at ambient temperature to 200 °C are surveyed. The relevant ionic equilibria (silicate and polysilicate anion formation, hydroxocation formation, alkaline-earth metal silicate hydrate and hydroxide precipitation from supersaturated solution) that may influence these precipitations are examined. - The microcrystalline and crystalline phases precipitated in systems of different cation/silicate compositions and temperatures are tabulated. Precipitation mechanisms are analysed.