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A Peculiar Morphology of Gibbsite and Nordstrandite Co-Crystallized in the Presence of Tartrate in a Strongly Alkaline Environment

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Clays and Clay Minerals

Abstract

The nature and morphology of Al(OH)3 polymorphs obtained by precipitating Al and tartrate at pH 12.0 and at a tartrate/Al molar ratio (R) of 0.1 were studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Co-crystallization of unusually long (up to 18 µm) ‘stick-shaped’ gibbsite with platy particles of both nordstrandite, mainly, and bayerite was observed. Face-to-face associations of plates nucleated perpendicularly on the gibbsite surfaces parallel to the c axis produced peculiar elongated ‘brush’ -shaped particles. In a strongly alkaline environment the inhibiting effect of tartrate on Al(OH)3 polymorph formation is reduced and production of co-crystallized phases with structural crystallographic similarities can be observed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e dell’Ambiente, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Università, 100, 80055, Portici, Italy

    P. Adamo, M. Pigna, S. Vingiani & A. Violante

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  1. P. Adamo
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  2. M. Pigna
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  3. S. Vingiani
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  4. A. Violante
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Correspondence to P. Adamo.

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Adamo, P., Pigna, M., Vingiani, S. et al. A Peculiar Morphology of Gibbsite and Nordstrandite Co-Crystallized in the Presence of Tartrate in a Strongly Alkaline Environment. Clays Clay Miner. 51, 350–353 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.2003.0510312

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.2003.0510312

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