The nucleation kinetics of barium sulfate in NaCl solutions up to 6 m and 90 C
- Rice Univ., Houston, TX (United States). Dept. of Environmental Science and Engineering
The formation of barite crystals is both desirable for quantitative analysis of barium or sulfate concentrations and undesirable as scale deposits in wells and associated facilities during geothermal drilling, gas and oil production, and brine disposal. Induction periods for the nucleation of barium sulfate were experimentally determined as a function of supersaturation in NaCl solutions from 0 to 6 m at 25 C and in 1.0 m NaCl solutions at temperatures from 25 to 90 C. Employing the classical nucleation theory, the interfacial tension between barite and supersaturated solutions with NaCl was estimated to be about 93 mJ/m{sup 2} (less than 0.003 m NaCl) and 79 mJ/m{sup 2} (1 m NaCl) at 25 C. It decreases slightly with increasing temperature (to 71 mJ/m{sup 2} in 1 m NaCl solutions at 90 C). It was observed that the induction period decreases with increasing NaCl concentrations to 3 mm and then starts to increase slightly at a given temperature and saturation index. The electrolyte effect on nucleation was proportional to the enhanced solubility of barium sulfate in NaCl solutions. This phenomenon may result from decreased crystal-solution interfacial tensions caused by increased barite solubility in electrolyte solutions. The increase in induction period at high NaCl concentrations may be due to the substitution of Na{sup +} ions into the lattice of BaSO{sub 4}.
- OSTI ID:
- 106234
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Journal Name: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 174; ISSN 0021-9797; ISSN JCISA5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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