Geochemical rate processes at mineral-water interfaces: Linking molecular-scale surface properties to macroscopic observables
- Wright State Univ., Dayton, OH (United States). Chemistry Dept.
The project emphasis at WSU is on the understanding of the principal influences on surface chemistry, morphology, and kinetics of reactions of minerals in aqueous solutions. This emphasis, in the last project period has guided our efforts to the study of morphological relaxation in response to solution perturbations as well as to develop a methodology for creating on-demand etch pits for the purposes of generating specific step orientations on calcite surfaces. In the response of any mineral-water interface to changes in environmental conditions, dissolution and mineralization rates undergo rapid changes because the reaction rates at step edges are governed directly by these conditions. Our previous investigations of mineral dissolution have revealed that the topographic relaxation time under near equilibrium conditions can be much longer than the characteristic times of experimental investigations. The investigations described below are directed towards evaluating the effects of sample history, miscut and pretreatment on the observed dissolution behavior of our target mineral-water interface systems. In addition, we have developed a simple method for generating on-demand etch pits for the purposes of studying kinetically unstable step orientations.
- Research Organization:
- Wright State Univ., Dayton, OH (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-03ER15379
- OSTI ID:
- 1131489
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-WSU-15379
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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