Solid solutions between CrO4- and SO4-ettringite Ca6(Al(OH)6)2[(CrO4)x(SO4)(1-x)]3*26 H2O

Environ Sci Technol. 2010 Dec 1;44(23):8983-8. doi: 10.1021/es100554v. Epub 2010 Nov 5.

Abstract

Chromate is a toxic contaminant of potential concern, as it is quite soluble in the alkaline pH range and could be released to the environment. In cementitous systems, CrO4(2−) is thought to be incorporated as a solid solution with SO4(2−) in ettringite. The formation of a solid solution (SS) could lower the soluble CrO4(2−) concentrations. Ettringite containing SO4(2−) or CrO4(2−) and mixtures thereof have been synthesized. The resulting solids and their solubility after an equilibration time of 3 months have been characterized. For CrO4-ettringite at 25 °C, a solubility product log K(S0) of −40.2 ± 0.4 was calculated: log K(CrO4−ettringite) = 6log{Ca2+} + 2log{Al(OH)4(−)} + 3log{CrO4(2−)} + 4log{OH−} + 26log{H2O}. X-ray diffraction and the analysis of the solution indicated the formation of a regular solid solution between SO4- and CrO4-ettringite with a miscibility gap between 0.4 ≤ XCrO4 ≤ 0.6. The miscibility gap of the SO4- and CrO4-ettringite solid solution could be reproduced with a dimensionless Guggenheim fitting parameter (a0) of 2.03. The presence of a solid solution between SO4- and CrO4-ettringite results in a stabilization of the solids compared to the pure ettringites and thus in an increased uptake of CrO4(2−) in cementitious systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum Hydroxide / chemistry
  • Chromates / chemistry*
  • Environmental Pollutants / chemistry
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Minerals / chemistry*
  • Models, Chemical
  • Refuse Disposal
  • Solubility
  • Solutions / chemistry
  • Sulfates / chemistry*

Substances

  • Chromates
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Minerals
  • Solutions
  • Sulfates
  • ettringite
  • Aluminum Hydroxide