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Current Project

Analytical Chemistry Division (V)

Number: 2002-031-1-500 (previously 583/24/89)

Title: Solubility data of compounds relevant to mobility of metals in the environment. Alkaline earth metal carbonates

Series: Solubility Data Series; editor-in-chief: Mark Salomon

Task Group
Chairmen:
J. Vanderdeelen and A. De Visscher

Member: J. Lorimer

Objective:
The thermodynamic properties of alkaline earth metal carbonates play a major role for a better understanding of a wide variety of geochemical and industrial processes involving equilibria between solid carbonates and aqueous solutions. Clearly a comprehensive compilation and evaluation of the existing solubility data is an invaluable basis for all sorts of predictive models in this field.

Description:
Solubilities in aqueous media of sparingly-soluble metal carbonates play an important role in chemical processes whether carried out on a laboratory or an industrial scale. Solubility phenomena, i.e. dissolution and precipitation reactions, frequently control procedures for preparing, separating and purifying chemicals. Moreover, interactions of the hydrologic cycle with the cycle of rocks, as well as the naturally occurring dissolution of carbonate minerals in water and their precipitation on the ocean floor and in sediments of rivers and lakes, can often be simply described in terms of solubility equilibria, although gigantic quantities of material may be involved [1]. A new issue is the injection of carbon dioxide into deep geological formations, and its geochemical consequences.

In addition, solubility measurements have been shown to be a powerful tool for the determination of thermodynamic properties of sparingly-soluble metal carbonates [2,3]. The thermodynamic properties of alkaline earth and transition metal carbonates play a major role for a better understanding of a wide variety of geochemical and industrial processes involving equilibria between solid carbonates and aqueous solutions. The total concentration of alkaline earth and transition metals in carbonate-bearing natural waters is predominantly determined by the solubilities of the respective hydroxides, oxides, hydroxide carbonates and neutral carbonates [4]. The thermodynamic modeling of dissolution or precipitation of sparingly-soluble metal carbonates may serve as an important tool for the prediction of the concentrations of transition metals in mine pit lakes [5]. A careful determination of thermodynamic data of metal carbonates is an essential prerequisite for the geochemical modeling of the release of trace elements from waste repositories [6]. Clearly a comprehensive compilation and evaluation of the existing solubility data is an invaluable basis for all sorts of predictive models in this field.

In addition to this project on akaline earth metal carbonates, two additional volumes will include compilations and evaluation of the solubility data for:

It should be emphasized that contributors to the Solubility Data Series have already prepared volumes which provide (i) auxiliary data necessary for the thermodynamic analysis as Volume 62: P. Scharlin, Carbon Dioxide in Water and Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions (1996) and (ii) environmentally relevant information on actinide carbonates as Volume 74: J. Hala, Actinide carbonates and carbon-containing compounds (2001).
Clearly, project #2002-025-1-500 on inorganic actinide compounds covers also important aspects within the field solubility data of compounds relevant to mobility of metals in the environment.

References
[1] H. Gamsj�ger, Solubility, In C.P. Marshall and R.W. Fairbridge, eds. Encyclopedia of Geochemistry. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 582-586 (1999).
[2] E. K�nigsberger, L.-C. K�nigsberger and H. Gamsj�ger, Low-temperature thermodynamic model for the system Na2CO3 - MgCO3 - CaCO3 - H2O. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 63, 3105-3119 (1999).
[3] W. Preis and H. Gamsj�ger, Thermodynamic investigation of phase equilibria in systems: Metal carbonate - water - carbon dioxide. Chemical Monthly 132, 1327-1346, (2001) [doi:10.1007/s007060170020]
[4] W. Stumm and J.J. Morgan, Aquatic Chemistry. 3rd ed. Wiley (1996).
[5] L.E. Eary, Geochemical and equilibrium trends in mine pit lakes. Appl. Geochem. 14, 963-987 (1999).
[6] R. Grauer, Solubility limitations: An "Old Timer's" view, in I. Grenthe and I. Puigdomenech, eds. Modelling in aquatic chemistry. OECD NEA, Paris, 131-152 (1997).

Progress:
Papers related to this project:
De Visscher A. & Vanderdeelen J. Estimation of the solubility constant of calcite, aragonite and vaterite at 25°C based on primary data using the Pitzer ion interaction approach. Monatsh. Chem. 134, 769-775 (2003). [doi:10.1007/s00706-002-0587-3]

De Visscher A. & Vanderdeelen J. Consistency issues of aqueous solubility data and solution thermodynamics of electrolytes. Pure Appl. Chem. 77, 619-629 (2005); paper presented at the 11th ISSP in Aveiro, Portugal, 26-29 July 2004.

The major outcome of this project is tobe published as part of the IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series. in J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data.

> May 2006 report update (pdf file - 15KB)

> July 2007 report update (pdf file - 9KB)

> View SDS published Volumes

Last Update: 16 October 2007

 

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Page last modified 16 October 2007.
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