A new method for the study of trace element partitioning between calcium carbonate and aqueous solution: A test case for Sr and Ba incorporation into calcite

Abstract

A new experimental method (evaporation method) for calcium carbonate precipitation in aqueous solution was attempted in order to develop a convenient and controllable experimental technique for obtaining precise trace element partition coefficients. Calcite crystals were formed by evaporation of H2O from the aqueous mother solution using a dehumidifier, and the consumed Ca ions were supplied from a refill solution to maintain supersaturation. This method has been tested for Sr and Ba partition coefficients using NaCl (3.5%) solution under room temperature and pressure. The results of two runs give Sr partition coefficients of 0.0585 and 0.0546, and Ba partition coefficients of 0.0302 and 0.0275 for growth rates of 152 and 499 μmol · m-2 · hr-1, respectively. It was found that this method has several merits for partitioning experiments: (1) pH of the solution is close to the natural ones, for example, pH of 8.08 in the present case is close to that of seawater; (2) chemical composition of the mother solution can be chosen to imitate natural composition; (3) the crystal growth rate is controllable in a relatively small range and is measurable; and (4) temperature and PCO2 pressure can be controlled. The relative errors of the partition coefficients in the present study were estimated to be about 5%. The results seem to be promising, and suggest that more precise determination of partition coefficients could be possible via more careful experimental handling and improving the apparatus.