Solubility study of sodium, potassium and calcium sulfates and chlorides, in ammonia

Solubility of sodium, potassium and calcium sulfates and chlorides in 28% ammonia solution was determined through monitoring conductivity measurements and kinetics of solids dissolution as a function of temperature and stirring time. The major findings of the present study show that Na₂SO₄ and K₂SO₄ solutions conductivity follow straight linear segments with different slopes. However, in case of NaCl, KC1, CaCl₂ and CaSO₄ · 2H₂O, conductivity curves were continuous, monotonous and reach constants maximum values. The hypothesis of complex formation or dissolution via intermediaries such as NaNH₄SO₄ and KNH₄SO₄ salts seams to be true, through X-ray diffraction study of resulting deposits. Furthermore, the dissolution rates at 25°C of potassium and calcium chlorides in ammonia solution are higher than that reported in the literature for water. In fact, ammonia significantly reduces the solubility of K₂SO₄; conversely, a slight increase in this parameter was observed for CaSO₄.