Determination of the kinetic constants of endothermic decompositions of the type Asol f Bsol + Cgas

The present work describes the endothermic decompositions of calcium carbonate and nickel carbonate, recorded on a MOM derivatograph in the non-isothermal mode at different heating rates. The possibility and advantages of determining the kinetic parametersE, Z, andn for reactions proceeding in one step, as well as the detection of simultaneous (parallel or concurrent) reactions in the decomposition process, are discussed. The results obtained permit the conclusion that the thermal decomposition of calcite occurs in one step. In this case, the kinetic equation has the following form: $$\lg \left {\frac{{d\alpha }}{{(1 - \alpha )^n }}} \right] = \lg \frac{Z}{q} - \frac{E}{{2.3R}} \cdot \frac{1}{T}$$ where f(α)=(1?α)ⁿ,n=0.3, andE=176.8 kJ/mol. In the case of nickel carbonate the results of treating the experimental data have been obtained only in the graphical form. From the shape of the curves obtained, it is clearly seen that the decomposition of nickel carbonate in open air proceeds in several steps (i.e. several simultaneous reactions take place), which cannot be described by the equations for a one-step reaction.