Solubility and reaction kinetics of solution–solid reactions determined by in situ observations

Abstract

THE solubilities of solid compounds in solution, and the kinetics of the reactions that take place between solid and liquid phases, have usually been studied by indirect methods, which are often time-consuming and can be inaccurate. Here we present a new experimental method, using the titration principle and in situ observation of solution–solid reactions on a solid surface, which allows the rapid acquisition of accurate data on the dissolution and growth rates and the solubilities (both stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric) of solids in a variety of aqueous and organic solutions at temperatures up to 350 °C and pressures up to 200 bar. This technique should provide new opportunities for determining the phase diagrams of complex systems and for studying crystal growth.