Activity coefficients of MgCOo3 and CaSOo4 ion pairs as a function of ionic strength

Based on potentiometric data and gypsum solubility in mixed salt solutions, respectively, the activity coefficients of MgCO^o₃ and CaSO^o₄ ion pairs decrease with ionic strength (I) at 25°C. Computed γ's for the ion pairs fit the empirical equation log γ_i = ? BI. B coefficients of 0.63 ±0.10 for MgCO^o₃ and 0.45 ± 0.15 for CaSO^o₄ are obtained from linear regression of log γ_i values vs I between 0.04 and 0.6 molal. Assumptions that the activity coefficients of these neutral ion pairs equal unity or are approximated by the Setchenow expression (log γ_i = kI) are therefore invalid at moderate ionic strengths. Log γ_i = ? BI is the same general form as the equation of Kirkwood (Chem. Rev.24, 233–251, 1939) for neutral dipoles.     

Magnesium in the marine sedimentary environment: Mg---NH4 ion exchange

The release of exchangeable Mg in marine sediments from displacement by ammonium ions was estimated by way of experimentally determining the parameters that govern this ion-exchange equilibrium on solid geochemical phases: smectite, humic acid, illite and opal.

We showed that: (a) both the conditional selectivity constant as well as the solid concentration are important parameters in determining the relative contribution of ammonium-exchangeable Mg from smectite, organic matter, illite and opal; and (b) that, except in the cases where opal or organic matter concentrations are very high, the clays are the dominant carrier phases for labile Mg which is exchangeable by ammonium.

A model, based on the sum of the contributions from the major geochemical phases present in the sediment reliably predicts the amount of Mg released by exchange with ammonium in marine sediments.     

Carbon-13 exchange between CO2 and CH4 under geothermal conditions

On the basis of recently reported data on the kinetics of carbon-13 exchange between CO₂ and CH₄ at temperatures above 500°C, first order rate constants $\text{log k = 11.16?10,190/T}$ were derived allowing variations in Δ, the difference in the isotopic composition of coexisting CO₂ and CH₄, to be evaluated as a function of initial composition and cooling rate of the rising geothermal fluid. Observed Δ-values in geothermal discharges are likely to represent frozen in compositions attained after minimum residence times of 20 ka at 400°C or 10 Ma at 300°C. The carbon-13 contents of any biogenic gases are unlikely to have been affected by thermal re-equilibration at temperatures below 200°C. The chemical equilibrium involving CO₂ and CH₄ can be expected to proceed about a hundred times faster than isotopic equilibration.     

The stability of UO2OH+ and UO2[HPO4]2−2 complexes at 25°C

The cumulative association constant (β₂) for the geochemically important aqueous complex UO₂[HPO₄]^2?₂ has been determined by potentiometric titration in Na₂HPO₄-UO₂(NO₃)₂ solutions in the pH range 3.9–4.7, at ionic strengths below 0.024 molal with the Newton-Raphson method used to compute β₂ from the chemical analytical data. Based on 25 measurements we obtain logβ₂ = 18.3 ± 0.2 at 25°C. From the same experiments we compute that the association constant of UO₂OH⁺ is 8.9 ± 0.1, in disagreement with the value of 8.3 ± 0.3 for this constant given by Baes and Mesmer (1976).     

Hydrogen isotope exchange kinetics between H2O and H4SiO4 from ab initio calculations

Hydrogen isotope exchange between water and orthosilicic acid (H₄SiO₄) was modeled using B3LYP calculations and classical transition-state theory. Configurations of 1, 2, 3 and 7 water molecules and H₄SiO₄ were used to investigate energetically viable reaction pathways. An upper-bound of 71 kJ/mol was assumed for the zero-point energy corrected barrier (ZPECB) because this is the experimentally determined activation energy for Si-O bond breaking (Rimstidt and Barnes, 1980) and ZPECB is expected to be close to this value. Long range solvation forces were accounted for using the integral equation formalism polarized continuum model (IEFPCM; Cancès et al., 1997). Primary and secondary isotope effects were computed by exchanging hydrogen atoms with deuterium. Results show that reaction mechanisms involving 3 and 7 water molecules have ZPECB of 34 to 38 kJ/mol, whereas those involving 1 and 2 water molecules have ZPECB in excess of the set upper-bound. The lower range of ZPECB with 3 or 7 water molecules is reasonable to explain rapid hydrogen isotope exchange with silicates. Rate constant calculations accounting for tunneling, anharmonicity and scaling factors indicate that the reaction is fast and equilibrium can be assumed under most geologic conditions.     

N2-CH4（CO2）混合气体在线标样制备及其拉曼定量因子测定

利用混合气体的标准样品对激光拉曼探针进行标定,可以快速准确地对包裹体中的无机及有机气相组分进行定量分析。而常用的商用钢瓶装混合气体标样,存在费用高、气体组成单一固定等缺点。本文设计了一套在线标样制备装置,提出一种在线配置不同浓度和压力条件下混合气体标样的方法。利用高纯度(纯度99.999%)的N2、CH4以及CO2钢瓶气,经过在线混合增压,在5 MPa和10 MPa条件下制备了N2摩尔分数为30%、50%和70%的N2-CH4以及N2-CO2混合气体在线标样。该方法制备的标样与70%N2+30%CO2的商用钢瓶气标样对比表明,CO2与N2的拉曼相对峰高以及相对峰面积值的误差在4%以内,具有较高的准确度和重现性。通过不同压力和浓度条件下CH4以及CO2的拉曼相对定量因子测定表明,气体的相对定量因子在5~10 MPa压力条件下与压力及组成无关。地质样品应用结果表明,本方法可以方便、灵活、准确地按任意比例将两瓶及两瓶以上纯气体钢瓶样品进行混合及增压,为激光拉曼标定、气体组成原位测量等提供了一种新的技术思路。     

Application of the Pitzer ion interaction model to isopiestic data for the Fe2(SO4)3-H2SO4-H2O system at 298.15 and 323.15 K

Recent isopiestic studies of the Fe₂(SO₄)₃-H₂SO₄-H₂O system at 298.15 K are represented with an extended version of Pitzer’s ion interaction model. The model represents osmotic coefficients for aqueous {(1 − y)Fe₂(SO₄)₃ + yH₂SO₄} mixtures from 0.45 to 3.0 m at 298.15 K and 0.0435 ? y ? 0.9370. In addition, a slightly less accurate representation of a more extended molality range to 5.47 m extends over the same y values, translating to a maximum ionic strength of 45 m. Recent isopiestic data for the system at 323.15 K are represented with the extended Pitzer model over a limited range in molality and solute fraction. These datasets are also represented with the usual “3-parameter” version of Pitzer’s model so that it may be incorporated in geochemical modeling software, but is a slightly less accurate representation of thermodynamic properties for this system. Comparisons made between our ion interaction model and available solubility data display partial agreement for rhomboclase and significant discrepancy for ferricopiapite. The comparisons highlight uncertainty remaining for solubility predictions in this system as well as the need for additional solubility measurements for Fe³⁺-bearing sulfate minerals. The resulting Pitzer ion interaction models provide an important step toward an accurate and comprehensive representation of thermodynamic properties in this geochemically important system.     

Dissociation constants and speciation in aqueous Li2SO4 and K2SO4 from measurements of electrical conductance to 673 K and 29 MPa

The electrical conductivities of aqueous solutions of Li₂SO₄ and K₂SO₄ have been measured at 523-673 K at 20-29 MPa in dilute solutions for molalities up to 2 × 10⁻² mol kg⁻¹. These conductivities have been fitted to the conductance equation of Turq, Blum, Bernard, and Kunz with a consensus mixing rule and mean spherical approximation activity coefficients. In the temperature interval 523-653 K, where the dielectric constant, ε, is greater than 14, the electrical conductance data can be fitted by a solution model which includes ion association to form , , and , where M is Li or K. The adjustable parameters of this model are the first and second dissociation constants of the M₂SO₄. For the 673 K and 300 kg m⁻³ state point where the Coulomb interactions are the strongest (dielectric constant, ε = 5), models with more extensive association give good fits to the data. In the case of the Li₂SO₄ model, including the multi-ion associate, , gave an extremely good fit to the conductance data.     

The kinetics of oxygen exchange between the GeO4Al12(OH)24(OH2)12(aq) molecule and aqueous solutions

We report rates of oxygen exchange with bulk solution for an aqueous complex, ^IVGeO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(OH₂)₁₂⁸⁺(aq) (GeAl₁₂), that is similar in structure to both the ^IVAlO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(OH₂)₁₂⁷⁺(aq) (Al₁₃) and ^IVGaO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(OH₂)₁₂⁷⁺(aq) (GaAl₁₂) molecules studied previously. All of these molecules have ε-Keggin-like structures, but in the GeAl₁₂ molecule, occupancy of the central tetrahedral metal site by Ge(IV) results in a molecular charge of +8, rather than +7, as in the Al₁₃ and GaAl₁₂. Rates of exchange between oxygen sites in this molecule and bulk solution were measured over a temperature range of 274.5 to 289.5 K and 2.95 < pH < 4.58 using ¹⁷O-NMR.Apparent rate parameters for exchange of the bound water molecules (η-OH₂) are k_ex²⁹⁸ = 200 (±100) s⁻¹, ΔH^‡ = 46 (±8) kJ · mol⁻¹, and ΔS^‡ = −46 (±24) J · mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ and are similar to those we measured previously for the GaAl₁₂ and Al₁₃ complexes. In contrast to the Al₁₃ and GaAl₁₂ molecules, we observe a small but significant pH dependence on rates of solvolysis that is not yet fully constrained and that indicates a contribution from the partly deprotonated GeAl₁₂ species.The two topologically distinct μ₂-OH sites in the GeAl₁₂ molecule exchange at greatly differing rates. The more labile set of μ₂-OH sites in the GeAl₁₂ molecule exchange at a rate that is faster than can be measured by the ¹⁷O-NMR isotopic-equilibration technique. The second set of μ₂-OH sites have rate parameters of k_ex²⁹⁸ = 6.6 (±0.2) · 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, ΔH^‡ = 82 (±2) kJ · mol⁻¹, and ΔS^‡ = −29 (±7) J · mol⁻¹ · K⁻¹, corresponding to exchanges ≈40 and ≈1550 times, respectively, more rapid than the less labile μ₂-OH sites in the Al₁₃ and GaAl₁₂ molecules. We find evidence of nearly first-order pH dependence on the rate of exchange of this μ₂-OH site with bulk solution for the GeAl₁₂ molecule, which contrasts with Al₁₃ and GaAl₁₂ molecules.     

Solubility of Fe-ettringite (Ca6[Fe(OH)6]2(SO4)3 · 26H2O)

The solubility of Fe-ettringite (Ca₆[Fe(OH)₆]₂(SO₄)₃ · 26H₂O) was measured in a series of precipitation and dissolution experiments at 20 °C and at pH-values between 11.0 and 14.0 using synthesised material. A time-series study showed that equilibrium was reached within 180 days of ageing. After equilibrating, the solid phases were analysed by XRD and TGA while the aqueous solutions were analysed by ICP-OES (calcium, sulphur) and ICP-MS (iron). Fe-ettringite was found to be stable up to pH 13.0. At higher pH-values Fe-monosulphate (Ca₄[Fe(OH)₆]₂(SO₄) · 6H₂O) and Fe-monocarbonate (Ca₄[Fe(OH)₆]₂(CO₃) · 6H₂O) are formed. The solubilities of these hydrates at 25 °C are:      

Effects of key geological factors in the long-term transport of CH4 and the CH4-hydrate formation behavior with formation dip

Many locations with concentrated hydrates at vents have confirmed the presence of abundant thermogenic gas in the middle of the Qiongdongnan Basin (QDNB). However, the impact of deep structures on gas-bearing fluids migration and gas hydrates distribution in tectonically inactive regions is still unclear. In this study, the authors apply high-resolution 3D seismic and logging while drilling (LWD) data from the middle of the QDNB to investigate the influence of deep-large faults on gas chimneys and preferred gas-escape pipes. The findings reveal the following: (1) Two significant deep-large faults, F1 and F2, developed on the edge of the Songnan Low Uplift, control the dominant migration of thermogenic hydrocarbons and determine the initial locations of gas chimneys. (2) The formation of gas chimneys is likely related to fault activation and reactivation. Gas chimney 1 is primarily arises from convergent fluid migration resulting from the intersection of the two faults, while the gas chimney 2 benefits from a steeper fault plane and shorter migration distance of fault F2. (3) Most gas-escape pipes are situated near the apex of the two faults. Their reactivations facilitate free gas flow into the GHSZ and contribute to the formation of fracture‐filling hydrates.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the CH4 and CH4-H2O systems up to 10 GPa and 2573 K

Based on our previous study of the intermolecular potential for pure H₂O and the strict evaluation of the competitive potential models for pure CH₄ and the ab initio fitting potential surface across CH₄-H₂O molecules in this study, we carried out more than two thousand molecular dynamics simulations for the PVTx properties of pure CH₄ and the CH₄-H₂O mixtures up to 2573 K and 10 GPa. Comparison of 1941 simulations with experimental PVT data for pure CH₄ shows an average deviation of 0.96% and a maximum deviation of 2.82%. The comparison of the results of 519 simulations of the mixtures with the experimental measurements reveals that the PVTx properties of the CH₄-H₂O mixtures generally agree with the extensive experimental data with an average deviation of 0.83% and 4% in maximum, which is equivalent to the experimental uncertainty. Moreover, the maximum deviation between the experimental data and the simulation results decreases to about 2% as temperature and pressure increase, indicating that the high accuracy of the simulation is well retained in the high temperature and pressure region.After the validation of the simulation method and the intermolecular potential models, we systematically simulated the PVTx properties of this binary system from 673 K and 0.05 GPa to 2573 K and 10 GPa. In order to integrate all the simulation results and the experimental data for the calculation of thermodynamic properties, an equation of state (EOS) is developed for the CH₄-H₂O system covering 673-2573 K and 0.01-10 GPa. Isochores for compositions <4 mol% CH₄ up to 773 K and 600 MPa are also determined in this paper. The program for the EOS can be downloaded from www.geochem-model.org/programs.htm.     

Effects of speciation on equilibrium fractionations and rates of oxygen isotope exchange between (PO4)aq and H2O

The effects of phosphate speciation on both rates of isotopic exchange and oxygen isotope equilibrium fractionation factors between aqueous phosphate and water were examined over the temperature range 70 to 180°C. Exchange between phosphate and water is much faster at low pH than at high pH, an observation that is similar to what has been observed in the analogous sulfate-water system. Oxygen isotope fractionations between protonated species like H₃PO₄ and H₂PO₄⁻ that are dominant at relatively low pH and species like PO₄³⁻ and ion pairs like KHPO₄⁻ that are dominant at relatively high pH, range between 5 and 8‰ at the temperatures of the experiments. In aqueous phosphate systems at equilibrium, ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratios increase with increasing degree of protonation of phosphate. This effect can be explained in part by the relative magnitudes of the dissociation constants of the protonated species. Under equilibrium conditions, carbonate in solution or in solid phases concentrates ¹⁸O relative to orthophosphate in solution or in solid phases at all temperatures, supporting the traditional view that biogenic phosphate is precipitated in near oxygen isotope equilibrium with body/ambient aqueous fluids with no attendant vital effects.     

Free energy of formation for green rust sodium sulphate (NaFe6Fe3(OH)18(SO4)2(s))

In a recent study, sulphate-bearing green rust (GR_SO4) was shown to incorporate Na⁺ in its structure (NaFe^II₆Fe^III₃(OH)₁₈(SO₄)_2(s); GR_Na,SO4). The compound was synthesised by aerial oxidation of Fe(OH)_2(s) in the presence of NaOH. This paper reports on its free energy of formation .Freshly synthesised GR_Na,SO4 was titrated with 0.5 M H₂SO₄ in an inert atmosphere at 25 °C, producing dissolved Fe²⁺ and magnetite or goethite. Solution concentrations, PHREEQC and the MINTEQ database were used to calculate reaction constants for the reactions:

     

Theoretical exploration of the water exchange mechanism of the polyoxocation GaO4Al12(OH)24(H2O)12 in aqueous solution

Reaction pathways, solvent effects and energy barriers have been investigated for the water exchange of the polyoxocation GaO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₁₂⁷⁺ (K-GaAl₁₂) in aqueous solution by means of supermolecule density functional theory calculations. In the proposed reaction pathway, the supermolecular reactant K-GaAl₁₂15H₂O first loses a water ligand to form an intermediate with a five-coordinated aluminum atom, and then the incoming water molecule in the second coordination sphere attacks the intermediate with a five-coordinated aluminum atom to produce the reaction product. Our calculated results indicate that the water exchange of K-GaAl₁₂ proceeds via a dissociative mechanism, and that the reverse reaction of Step II is the most favorable dissociative pathway, with a barrier height of 31.3 kJ mol⁻¹. The calculated transition-state rate for the favorable dissociative pathway is much larger than the experimental rate constant, but is close to the data calculated for Al₃₀ by molecular dynamics. The transmission coefficient was also predicted on the basis of both the calculated transition-state rate and the experimental rate. Our calculated results also indicate that both the explicit solvent effect and the bulk solvent effect have obvious effects on the barrier heights of the water exchange reaction of K-GaAl₁₂. By comparison, the water exchange mechanism for K-GaAl₁₂ was found to be more similar to that for mineral surfaces than that for monomeric aluminum species.     

Solubility of pyromorphite Pb5(PO4)3Cl-mimetite Pb5(AsO4)3Cl solid solution series

Pyromorphite Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl and mimetite Pb₅(AsO₄)₃Cl are isostructural minerals with apatite. Due to their high environmental stability, they have gained considerable attention as metals sequestration agents in water treatment and contaminated soil remediation. Pyromorphite and mimetite can form a continuous solid solution series in near-Earth surface environments. Precipitation of the end members and intermediate members of the series is likely to occur in the areas where the cost-effective in situ immobilization reclamation method, based on phosphate amendments, is applied. In contrast to the widely studied thermodynamic parameters of pyromorphite and mimetite, knowledge of the thermodynamics of their solid solutions is sparse. To supplement the data, a number of compounds from the pyromorphite-mimetite series were synthesized at room temperature using a method to simulate the conditions in the near-Earth surface environments. Afterwards, batch dissolution and dissolution-recrystallization experiments of seven synthesized precipitates were conducted at 25 °C, pH = 2 and in a 0.05 M KNO₃ background electrolyte. The experiments were carried out for a period of 6 (dissolution) and 14 (dissolution-recrystallization) months. A plateau in the [Pb] evolution patterns was used to determine equilibrium. All seven dissolutions were congruent, and the ionic activity products (IAP) of the minerals from the pyromorphite-mimetite solid solution series were calculated based on the dissolution reaction: . The IAPs for pyromorphite and mimetite exhibit a significant difference in values over three orders of magnitude between approximately 10⁻⁷⁹ for pyromorphite and approximately 10⁻⁷⁶ for mimetite. The series appeared to be ideal, and Lippmann and Roozboom diagrams were used for better understanding of its thermodynamics. The results indicated a strong tendency of pyromorphite to partition into the solid phase in the series, which explains some of the naturally observed phenomena. The improvement of the lattice stability of the mimetite due to isostructural phosphate substitutions in anionic sites was observed. The thermodynamic data reported in this study supplement existing databases used in geochemical modeling.     

Oxygen isotope exchange kinetics between H2O and H4SiO4 from ab initio calculations

Oxygen isotope exchange between H₂O and H₄SiO₄ was modeled with ab initio calculations on H₄SiO₄ + 7H₂O. Constrained optimizations were performed with the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) method to determine reactants, transition states, and intermediates. Long-range solvation was accounted for using self-consistent reaction field calculations. The mechanism for exchange involves two steps, a concerted proton transfer from H₄SiO₄ forming a 5-coordinated Si followed by a concerted proton transfer from the 5-coordinated Si forming another H₄SiO₄. The 5-coordinated Si intermediate is C2 symmetric. At 298K and with implicit solvation included, the Gibbs free energy of activation from transition state theory is 66 kJ/mol and the predicted rate constant is 16 s⁻¹. Equilibrium calculations between 298K and 673K yield α_H4SiO4-H2O that are uniformly less than, but similar to, α_qtz-H2O, and therefore α_qtz-H4SiO4 is expected to be relatively small in this temperature range.