Solubility Equilibria

CHEM 409-04

Application of Phase Change

Many industrial processes use a phase
change to drive a reaction, separate
products and reactants, and treat waste
streams
These phase changes can be designed
through selection of:
Temperature (solid/liquid/gas phase)*
Solvent (precipitation/solubility)*

* i.e. physical change

Application of Phase Change

These phase changes can be induced
using the chemistry of the process*
e.g. using acid-base chemistry
*i.e. using a chemical change (reaction) to
induce the physical change

Solubility Equilibria
Solubility can be quantified as a measure
of the amount of solute particular solvent
can dissolve
Write the solubility product constant
for calcium fluoride:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solubility_equilibrium

Common Ion Effect

The solubility product for a pure salt
(cation-anion) in solution will change if one
of the cations or anions is introduced into
the solution
Give an example of the common ion
effect:

Aluminum Sulfate: Waste Water

Treatment (common ion effect)
Al2(SO4)3 (S) 2Al3+(aq.) + 3SO42-(aq.)
Used for the removal of phosphates:
Al3+ (aq.) + H2PO4 (aq.) + 2OH (aq.) Al(H2PO4)(OH)2(s)
Al3+ (aq.) + HPO42 (aq.) + OH (aq.) Al(HPO4)(OH)(s)

Common Ion Effect: CaSO4 Solubility in

H2SO4 when Mixed with CuSO4

Scaling
Scale is the precipitate deposited on surfaces
Precipitation can be due to changes in
temperature or pressure (during a production
process), or mixing of waters from different
sources
Scale interferes with heat exchangers and
restricts flow in pipes
Common scales include CaCO3, CaSO4 and
BaSO4

Scaling

Give examples of precipitation due to

changes in physical and chemical
environment

Give examples of scaling due

temperature / pressure changes and due
to mixing of waters
Temperature effects
solubility
Not all minerals
INCREASE in
solubility with increasing
temperature

Solubility as a Function of pH

Phase Change induced by Chemical

reactions:
Used in multiple industrial manufacturing
processes
Facilitates separation of reaction mixtures

Phosphoric Acid: Wet Process

Ca3(PO4)2(s)+ 3H2SO4(aq) 3CaSO4(s) + 2H3PO4(aq)

Phosphate rock (fluoroapatite) reacted with

sulfuric acid
The process stream is forced through a filter
Products are in different phases, easy to
separate
http://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/chemicals/phosphoric-acid.html

Solvay Process (Jess 5.2.1)

2NaCl(Aq) + CaCO3(s) Na2CO3(s) + CaCl2(aq)

Solvay Process

Solvay Process

Overall:
2NaCl(Aq) + CaCO3(s) Na2CO3(s) + CaCl2(aq)

GROUP WORK: Read up on the Solvay Process

why is ammonia important in this process ?

Using Chemistry to induce a Phase

Change and Separate Desired
Products:

Outline how Titanium Dioxide is

Isolated from its Ore using Chemistry
and Phase Change:

http://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/chemicals/titanium-dioxide.html