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Thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and infrared emission spectroscopy of the borate mineral meyerhofferite CaB3O3(OH)5·H2O

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Abstract

Meyerhofferite is a calcium hydrated borate mineral with formula Ca2(H3B3O7)2·4H2O and occurs as white complex acicular to crude crystals in sedimentary or lake-bed borate deposits. Simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and derivative thermal analysis were performed. The TG curve shows a main decomposition at 195 °C followed by a second decomposition centered at about 436 °C. The total loss of mass is 28.1 % upon heating up to 1000 °C. The decomposition of meyerhofferite is also followed by the infrared emission spectra. A very sharp peak is observed at 3614 cm−1 in the 100 °C spectrum, which is attributed to the stretching vibration of OH units. This band shows a red shift with increasing temperature. The intensity of this band is lost by 250 °C. X-ray powder diffraction of the product of heating at 200 and 650 °C shows an amorphous phase, and at temperature up to 1000 °C is observed a partial reordering of the crystal structure, including calcium hexaboride, boron oxide, calcium peroxide, as well as unidentified phases.

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Acknowledgements

The financial and infrastructure support of the Discipline of Nanotechnology and Molecular Science, Science and Engineering Faculty of the Queensland University of Technology, is gratefully acknowledged. The Australian Research Council (ARC) is thanked for funding the instrumentation. R. Scholz thanks to CNPq and FAPEMIG (respectively, Grant No. 305284/2015-0 and Grant APQ-01448-15) and PROPP/UFOP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia

    Ray L. Frost & Xiuxiu Ruan

  2. Geology Department, School of Mines, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-00, Brazil

    Ricardo Scholz

  3. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, No. 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, People’s Republic of China

    Xiuxiu Ruan

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  1. Ray L. Frost
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  2. Ricardo Scholz
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  3. Xiuxiu Ruan
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Correspondence to Ray L. Frost.

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Frost, R.L., Scholz, R. & Ruan, X. Thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and infrared emission spectroscopy of the borate mineral meyerhofferite CaB3O3(OH)5·H2O. J Therm Anal Calorim 128, 601–604 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-5914-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-5914-8

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