In situ synchrotron PXRD investigation of fresh and aged Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. (horsetail grass)

As one of the oldest species, horsetail grass (Equisetum ramosissimum Desf.) is known as a living fossil plant, dating back to the Mesozoic era. Horsetail grass is also considered one of the most important sources of bio-silica due to its ability to accumulate high amounts of silica in all parts of the plant; various minerals can also be isolated by heat treatment. Fresh and aged horsetail grass stored for 2 years under ambient conditions was investigated by synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Clear crystallites were not observed in a fresh sample stored at room temperature; surprisingly, high amounts of gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) and syngenite (K₂CaSO₄]₂·H₂O) were observed in the 2-day dried and 2-year aged samples, respectively. However, crystalline silica materials were not observed. In addition, in situ thermal treatment of up to 700°C was applied to investigate the crystals and phase transitions by focusing the X-ray beam onto a single stem. In situ synchrotron PXRD revealed that dehydration occurred in gypsum in the 2-day dried sample with an increase in temperature to hemihydrate (CaSO₄·xH₂O, 0.5 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) and anhydrite (CaSO₄). On the other hand, syngenite was transformed to calciolangbeinite (K₂Ca₂SO₄]₃) at high temperatures in 2-year aged horsetail grass.