The stability of aqueous nickel(II) chloride complexes in hydrothermal solutions: Results of UV–Visible spectroscopic experiments

Abstract

Knowledge of the thermodynamic properties of aqueous nickel chloride complexes is important for understanding and quantitatively evaluating nickel transport in hydrothermal systems. In this paper, UV–Visible spectroscopic measurements are reported for dissolved nickel in perchlorate, triflic acid and sodium chloride solutions at temperatures up to 250°C and 100bar. The observed molar absorbance of Ni2+ in both perchlorate and triflic acid solutions is similar, and the absorbance peak migrates toward lower energy (red-shift) with increasing temperature. The spectra of nickel chloride solutions show a systematic red-shift with increasing temperature and/or chloride concentration. This allowed identification of the nickel chloride species as NiCl+, NiCl2(aq) and NiCl3-, and determination of their formation constants. Based on the experimental data reported in this paper and those of previous experimental studies, formation constants for these nickel chloride complexes have been calculated for temperatures up to 700°C and pressures up to 2000bar. The solubility of millerite (NiS) and pentlandite (Ni4.5Fe4.5S8) calculated using these constants shows that nickel dissolves in significantly higher concentrations in hydrothermal solutions than previously estimated. However, the solubility is considerably lower than for corresponding cobalt sulphide minerals. This may explain why hydrothermal nickel deposits are encountered so much less frequently than hydrothermal deposits of cobalt.