An Electrochemical Study of Hydrothermal Reactions at Elevated Temperatures

A high temperature hydrogen electrode concentration cell based on a design published by Macdonald, Butler and Owen1, was constructed and used to study the following protolytic equilibria. Thermodynamic equilibrium constants were derived by the usual method of extrapolation to zero ionic strength. 1. The ionization of water at temperatures from 75 to 225 degrees C in 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 mol kg-1 KCl solution. pK degrees w = 7229.701 /T + 30.285logT - 85.007 2. The pH calibration of 0.01 and 0.05 mol kg-1 sodium tetraborate at temperatures from 75 to 250 degrees C in O.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mol kg-1 NaCl solution. 0.0l mol kg-1 Sodium Tetraborate Solution pH = -0.4830t1 + 5.5692t2 + 7.7167t3 + 8.6983 0.05 mol kg-1 Sodium Tetraborate Solution pH = -0.0455tl + 8.3987t2 + O.2123t3 8.8156 3. The second dissociation of sulphuric acid at temperatures from 75 to 225 degree C in 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mol kg-l KCl solution. pK degrees 2 = 5.3353t1 - 15.9518t2 - 111.4929t3 + 3.8458 pK degrees 2 = 6.1815t*1 + 12.7301t*2. + 3.0660 (up to 150 degrees C) Where the t1 to t3= and t*1 and t*2 are the Clark-Glew temperature variable terms at reference temperatures of 423.15 and 373.15 K respectively2. 4. The acid hydrolysis of K-feldspar to K-mica and quartz at a temperature of 225 degrees C. The determination of the hydrolysis equilibrium constant was limited to one temperature because of the very slow reaction rate at temperatures less than 300 degrees C. log(mK+/mH+) = 4.2 (at 225 degrees C) Where a comparison could be made, the results of this study agreed well with previously published work, with the exception of the second dissociation constant of sulphuric acid at temperatures above 150 degrees C. Accurate values for the molal dissociation constant of the KSO-4 ion pair are required at elevated temperatures before the pK degrees 2 results can be fully evaluated. This research was severely restricted by the unpredictable loss of electrical continuity between the two cell compartments at temperatures above 150 degrees C. The problem appeared to be associated with the non-wettability of the porous Teflon plug which formed the liquid junction.