Effects of operating variables on the induction period of CaCl 2–Na 2CO 3 system

Abstract

The induction period is defined as the time elapsed between the creation of supersaturation and the formation of critical nuclei. A novel data acquisition system is developed in this experiment to determine the induction period on the desupersaturation curve. The effect of several operating conditions, including initial reagent concentration, temperature, pH, and presence of additive and seeds on the induction period of CaCO 3 were studied experimentally. The results showed that the induction period decreases with an increase in initial reagent concentration, temperature, and pH of the solution. The presence of Mg 2+ in solution prolongs the induction period. On the other hand, the presence of Na + in solution has little influence on the induction period. Further, the presence of seed crystals in solution shortens the induction period.