Kinetics of Nesquehonite Nucleation

<p>During the nucleation of mineral crystals, the particles (atoms and molecules) will be ordered in a crystal lattice and mineral surfaces will develop. The interfacial energy plays important roles in mineral nucleation. The surface energy can be influenced by many factors including temperature, solution chemistry, ion absorptions, and shape/size of nuclei. Previous research studied the effect of solution stoichiometry on the surface energy between nesquehonite and aqueous solution, which strongly relied on simple assumptions (including shape factors). Our research has sought to provide direct observations and quantify modeling on some of these factors affecting the nucleation of nesquehonite. About 72 nesquehonite nucleation experiments were conducted in aqueous solutions, all of which have been adjusted to similar Mg²⁺/CO₃^2-activity ratios (i.e. log (a Mg²⁺/a CO₃^2-)) ranging between -0.28 and 1.53 but having different saturation states. In these experiments, the induction time is calculated using a new turbidity method, and the induction time correlates with the saturation state which is consistent with the classical nucleation theory (CNT). The calculated surface energy is found to be correlated with log activity ratios, suggesting the control of solution chemistry. In particular, we found that the change of surface energy could be a result of surface energy excess caused by the change in the size and shape factors, as demonstrated by the direct observation using phase-contrast microscopy.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Rezgui, Halla

Contributors dc:contributor

• Zhengrong Wang

• Surface energy
• crystal nucleation
• induction time
• size and shape factors

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/824

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:cc_etds_theses-1918