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Thermoanalytical studies of natural potassium, sodium and ammonium alunites

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Abstract

Dynamic and controlled rate thermal analysis (CRTA) has been used to characterise alunites of formula [M(Al)3(SO4)2(OH)6] where M+ is the cations K+, Na+ or NH4 +. Thermal decomposition occurs in a series of steps: (a) dehydration, (b) well-defined dehydroxylation and (c) desulphation. CRTA offers a better resolution and a more detailed interpretation of water formation processes via approaching equilibrium conditions of decomposition through the elimination of the slow transfer of heat to the sample as a controlling parameter on the process of decomposition. Constant-rate decomposition processes of water formation reveal the subtle nature of dehydration and dehydroxylation.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA) under Grant No. K62175. The financial and infra-structure support of the Queensland University of Technology Inorganic Materials Research Program is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Pannonia, PO Box 158, 8201, Veszprém, Hungary

    János Kristóf

  2. Inorganic Materials Research Program, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia

    Ray L. Frost & Sara J. Palmer

  3. Institute of Environmental Engineering, University of Pannonia, PO Box 158, 8201, Veszprém, Hungary

    Erzsébet Horváth

  4. Central Research Institute for Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Science, PO Box 17, 1525, Budapest, Hungary

    Emma Jakab

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  1. János Kristóf
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  2. Ray L. Frost
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  3. Sara J. Palmer
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  4. Erzsébet Horváth
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  5. Emma Jakab
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Correspondence to Ray L. Frost.

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Kristóf, J., Frost, R.L., Palmer, S.J. et al. Thermoanalytical studies of natural potassium, sodium and ammonium alunites. J Therm Anal Calorim 100, 961–966 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-009-0581-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-009-0581-7

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