Date of Award

12-11-2017

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Nadine Kabengi

Second Advisor

Kathryn Grant

Third Advisor

Michael L. Machesky

Fourth Advisor

David J. Wesolowski

Abstract

This work examines the interactions of cations with two mineral surfaces, quartz (SiO2) and corundum (Al2O3) to gain mechanistic insights into those interactions through the use of flow microcalorimetry, quartz crystal microbalance measurements, and density functional theory. The adsorption and exchange of alkali and alkaline earth cations onto the quartz mineral surface was conducted at pH 4.0 and 8.0. The heats of adsorption and exchange were found to increase along the lyotropic series, Li+ < Na+ < K+ < Rb+ < Cs+ and Mg2+ < Ca2+ < Sr2+ < Ba2+, and were strongly correlated with the cation bulk hydration enthalpy. The adsorption of Al3+, Cr3+, and Mn2+ was investigated on the quartz and corundum mineral surfaces at pH 3.8. Adsorption behavior was seen for all cations on both surfaces, with the exception of Mn2+ on quartz. The adsorption of these cations was a function of both cation hydration and hydrolysis.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/11194178

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