Minerals 2017, 7(6), 90; doi:10.3390/min7060090
Crystallization of Jarosite with Variable Al3+ Content: The Transition to Alunite
Curtin Institute of Functional Molecules and Interfaces, Department of Chemistry, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth WA 6845, Australia
Academic Editor: Denis Gebauer
Received: 28 March 2017 / Revised: 29 May 2017 / Accepted: 29 May 2017 / Published: 1 June 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nucleation of Minerals: Precursors, Intermediates and Their Use in Materials Chemistry)
Abstract
This study focused on the formation of the jarosite-alunite solid solution at relatively low temperature, 90 °C. It was found that the transition from jarosite to alunite results in significant changes in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern, the infrared spectrum and thermal behavior when the degree of substitution reached ≥50%. The initial Al/(Al + Fe) in solution, however, required to achieve these substitution levels in the solid is ≥90%. The morphology shows that the faceted jarosite form goes through an intergrown transition to a spherical morphology of pure alunite. This morphology has not been previously observed for alunite and most likely reflects the formation temperature. Rietveld analysis shows that the a lattice parameter obeys Vegard’s Rule while the c lattice parameter behavior is more complex. Empirical modelling of the incorporation of Fe into alunite supports the general trends found in the X-ray diffraction data for the behaviour of the a-axis with Al/Fe content. The dehydration of the Al3+ ion could be a significant contribution to the activation energy barrier to alunite formation as found for other minerals. Finally, dynamic light scattering showed that the nucleation behavior for jarosite and Fe-containing alunite are significantly different. Alunite appears to nucleate continuously rather than in a single nucleation event. View Full-TextKeywords:
crystal growth; nucleation; infrared spectroscopy; XRD data; jarosite; alunite
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Jones, F. Crystallization of Jarosite with Variable Al3+ Content: The Transition to Alunite. Minerals 2017, 7, 90.
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