The combined effect of pH and temperature on smectite dissolution rate under acidic conditions

Keren Amram, Jiwchar Ganor

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123 Scopus citations

Abstract

The main goal of this paper is to propose a new rate law describing the combined effect of pH (1 to 4.5) and temperature (25 to 70 °C) on smectite dissolution rate, under far from equilibrium conditions, as a step towards establishing the full rate law of smectite dissolution under acidic conditions. Dissolution experiments were carried out using non-stirred flow-through reactors fully immersed in a thermostatic water bath held at a constant temperature of 25.0°C, 50.0°C or 70.0°C ± 0.1°C. Smectite dissolution rates were obtained based on the release of silicon and aluminum at steady state. The results show good agreement between these two estimates of smectite dissolution rate. Low Al/Si ratios were obtained in experiments that were conducted at pH ≥4. These low Al/Si ratios are explained by precipitation of gibbsite and/or diaspore. Dissolution rate increases with temperature and decreases with increasing pH. Dissolution rates of experiments in which ΔGr ≤ -21 kcal mol-1, are not affected by deviation from equilibrium. Dissolution rates in most experiments are not affected by the addition of up to 0.3 M NaNO3 to the input solution. A simple model is used to describe the combined effect of pH and temperature on smectite dissolution rate. According to this model, dissolution rate is linearly proportional to the concentration of adsorbed protons on the mineral surface, and proton adsorption is described using a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. All experimental results at pH >4 were fitted to the model using a multiple non-linear regression. The resulting rate law is: Rate = 220 · e-17460RT · 3·10-6 · e10700/RT · aH+/1 + 3.10-6 · e10700/RT · aH+ where R is the gas constant, T is the temperature (K) and a H+ is the activity of protons in solution. According to the model, the dependence of dissolution rate on temperature is affected by the activation energy and the adsorption enthalpy. The activation energy obtained from the fitting (17 ± 2 kcal-mol) is within error equal to the average value of 15 kcal-mol of apparent activation energies for silicates dissolution rate (Lasaga et al., 1994). The obtained net enthalpy of adsorption (-11 ± 2 kcal-mol) is within the range of -7.9 to -23.1 kcal-mol, experimentally obtained for oxides (Sverjensky and Sahai, 1998).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2535-2546
Number of pages12
JournalGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume69
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 May 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology

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