Phase diagrams and physicochemical properties of Li+,K+(Rb+)//borate–H2O systems at 323 K

Abstract

The phase and physicochemical properties diagrams of Li⁺,K⁺(Rb⁺)//borate–H₂O systems at 323 K were constructed using the experimentally measured solubilities, densities, and refractive indices. The Schreinemakers’ wet residue method and the X-ray diffraction were used for the determination of the compositions of solid phase. Results show that these two systems belong to the hydrate I type, with no solid solution or double salt formation. The borate phases formed in our experiments are RbB₅O₆(OH)₄ · 2H₂O, Li₂B₄O₅(OH)₄ · H₂O, and K₂B₄O₅(OH)₄ · 2H₂O. Comparison between the stable phase diagrams of the studied system at 288, 323, and 348 K show that in this temperature range, the crystallization form of salts do not changed. With the increase in temperature, the crystallization field of Li₂B₄O₅(OH)₄ · H₂O salt at 348 K is obviously larger than that at 288 K. In the Li⁺,K⁺(Rb⁺)//borate–H₂O systems, the densities and refractive indices of the solutions (at equilibrium) increase along with the mass fraction of K₂B₄O₇ (Rb₂B₄O₇), and reach the maximum values at invariant point E.