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)
>
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Last Update: 16 October 2007