The thermal decomposition of NaHCO3

New EGA findings revealed that the small endothermal event preceding that of the main decomposition of commercial NaHCO₃ involves the simultaneous evolution of water and CO₂. At very high sensitivity, EGA experiments evidenced that the above (limited) evolution of gases also took place from the recrystallized material for which thermal methods gave no indication of endotherms.Careful reexamination of previous DSC results indicated that for one kind of recrystallized material a very small endotherm had been neglected. Renewed experiments revealed that this endotherm can be enhanced if the samples are prepared by crushing and sieving in a wet atmosphere. Parallel FT-IR experiments on commercial and recrystallized materials demonstrated the presence of carbonate in samples that had previously been taken just beyond the first small endotherm; this confirmed the EGA results. SEM experiments showed that surface texture changes take place when samples are heated to temperatures just above that of the preliminary endotherm. On the basis of these new findings, the interpretation previously given to the small endotherm is revised and detailed knowledge is gained on the mechanism of decomposition of NaHCO₃.The authors express their gratitude to Dr. Stephen B. Warrington (Thermal Analysis Consultancy Service, Leeds Metropolitan University) for having communicated the EGA results that led to the present report. The authors also feel indebted to Dr. Mario Paolieri of the Centro Interdipartimentale per la Microscopia Elettronica e la Microanalisi (M.E.M.A.) for his help in performing and interpreting the SEM experiments, and to Mr. Paolo Parri for his careful preparation of the illustrative material. Financial support from the University of Florence (ex 60% MURST) is greatly appreciated.