PNNL

Abstract

The dissolution kinetics of five glasses along the NaAlSiO4-NaBSiO4 join were used to evaluate how the structural variations associated with boron-aluminum substitution affect the rate of dissolution. The composition of each glass varied inversely in mol% of Al2O3 (5 to 25 mol%) and B2O3 (20 to 0 mol%) with Na2O (25 mol%) and SiO2 (50 mol%) making up the remaining amount, in every case Na/(Al+B) = 1.0. Single-pass flow-through experiments (SPFT) were conducted under dilute conditions as a function of solution pH (from 7.0 to 12.0) and temperature (from 23° to 90°C). Analysis by 27Al and 29Si MAS-NMR suggests Al (~98% [4]Al) and Si atoms (~100% [4]Si) occupy a tetrahedral coordination whereas, B atoms occupy both tetrahedral ([4]B) and trigonal ([3]B) coordination. The distribution of [3]B fractionated between [3]B(ring) and [3]B(non-ring) moieties, with the [3]B(ring)/[3]B(non-ring) ratio increases with the B/Al ratio. The MAS-NMR results also indicated an increase in the fraction of [4]B with an increase in the B/Al ratio. But despite the changes in the B/Al ratio and B coordination, the 29Si spectra maintain a chemical shift between -88 to -84 ppm for each glass. Unlike the 29Si spectra, the 27Al resonances shift to more positive values with an increase in the B/Al ratio which suggests mixing between the [4]Al and [3]B sites, assuming avoidance between tetrahedral trivalent cations ([4]Al-O-[4]B avoidance). Raman spectroscopy was use to augment the results collected from MAS-NMR and demonstrated that NeB4 (glass sample with the highest B content) was glass-glass phase separated (e.g., heterogeneous glass). Results from SPFT experiments suggest a forward rate of reaction and pH power law coefficients, ?, that are independent of B/Al under these neutral to alkaline test conditions for all homogeneous glasses. The temperature dependence shows an order of magnitude increase in the dissolution rate with a 67°C increase in temperature and suggests dissolution is controlled by a surface-mediated reaction, evident by the activation energy, Ea, being between 44 ±8 and 48 ±7 kJ/mol. Forward dissolution rates, based on Na and Si release, for homogeneous glasses are independent of the B/Al ratio, whereas dissolution rates based on Al and B release are not. Dissolution rates based on B release increase with an increase in the fraction of [3]B(ring). Finally in accord with previous studies, the data discussed in this manuscript suggest rupture of the Al-O and Si-O bond as the rate-limiting step controlling the dissolution of these glasses.