『Abstract
Crystallisation of sodium sulfate solutions by evaporation under
controlled climatic conditions has revealed the existence of crystalline
hydrated sodium sulfate salts not previously reported. The sodium
sulfate phase crystallising and the concentration of the solution
at the point of crystallisation depends on the climatic conditions
(temperature and evaporation rate). During the rehydration of
the anhydrous sodium sulfate phase, thenardite, another previously
unreported phase was formed prior to the nucleation of the stable
phase, mirabilite Na2SO4・10H2O. The addition of organic inhibitors changes
both the crystallisation and the rehydration behavior in this
system.
Keywords: Sodium sulfate; Crystal growth; Metastable phases; stone
decay; Mineralogy』
Introduction
Experimental procedures
Results
Supersaturation at crystallisation
The dependence on the rate of change of supersaturation
X-ray powder diffraction of crystallised sodium sulfate
X-ray powder diffraction of the hydration of thenardite
Discussion
Acknowledgments
References