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Zn-Al hydrotalcites and Cu-Al hydrotalcites were synthesised by coprecipitation method and analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy. These methods provide a measure of the thermal stability of the hydrotalcite. The XRD patterns demonstrate similar patterns to that of the reference patterns but present impurities attributed to Zn(OH)2 and Cu(OH)2. The analysis shows that the d003 peak for the Zn-Al hydrotalcite gives a spacing in the interlayer of 7.59 Å and the estimation of the particle size by using the Debye-Scherrer equation and the width of the d003 peak is 590 Å. In the case of the Cu-Al hydrotalcite, the d003 spacing is 7.57 Å and the size of the diffracting particles was determined to be 225 Å. The thermal decomposition steps can be broken down into 4 sections for both of these hydrotalcites. The first step decomposition below 100°C is caused by the dehydration of some water absorbed. The second stage shows two major steps attributed to the dehydroxylation of the hydrotalcite. In the next stage, the gas CO2 is liberated over a temperature range of 150°C. The last reactions occur over 400°C and involved CO2 evolution in the decomposition of the compounds produced during the dehydroxylation of the hydrotalcite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mineral sabugalite (HAl)0.5[(UO2)2(PO4)]2⋅8H2O, has been studied using a combination of energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, dynamic and controlled rate thermal analysis techniques. X-ray diffraction shows that the starting material in the thermal decomposition is sabugalite and the product of the thermal treatment is a mixture of aluminium and uranyl phosphates. Four mass loss steps are observed for the dehydration of sabugalite at 48°C (temperature range 39 to 59°C), 84°C (temperature range 59 to 109°C), 127°C (temperature range 109 to 165°C) and around 270°C (temperature range 175 to 525°C) with mass losses of 2.8, 6.5, 2.3 and 4.4%, respectively, making a total mass loss of water of 16.0%. In the CRTA experiment mass loss stages were found at 60, 97, 140 and 270°C which correspond to four dehydration steps involving the loss of 2, 6, 6 and 2 moles of water. These mass losses result in the formation of four phases namely meta(I)sabugalite, meta(II)sabugalite, meta(III)sabugalite and finally uranyl phosphate and alumina phosphates. The use of a combination of dynamic and controlled rate thermal analysis techniques enabled a definitive study of the thermal decomposition of sabugalite. While the temperature ranges and the mass losses vary due to the different experimental conditions, the results of the CRTA analysis should be considered as standard data due to the quasi-equilibrium nature of the thermal decomposition process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High resolution TG coupled to a gas evolution mass spectrometer has been used to study the thermal properties of a chromium based series of Ni/Cu hydrotalcites of formulae NixCu6-xCr2(OH)16(CO3)×4H2O where x varied from 6 to 0. The effect of increased Cu composition results in the increase of the endotherms and mass loss steps to higher temperatures. Evolved gas mass spectrometry shows that water is lost in a number of steps and that the interlayer carbonate anion is lost simultaneously with hydroxyl units. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to determine the heat flow steps for the thermal decomposition of the synthetic hydrotalcites. Hydrotalcites in which M2+ consist of Cu, Ni or Co form important precursors for mixed metal-oxide catalysts. The application of these mixed metal oxides is in the wet catalytic oxidation of low concentrations of retractable organics in water. Therefore, the thermal behaviour of synthetic hydrotalcites, NixCu6-xCr2(OH)16CO3× nH2O was studied by thermal analysis techniques in order to determine the correct temperatures for the synthesis of the mixed metal oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mineral metatorbernite, Cu[(UO2)2(PO4)]2·8H2O, has been studied using a combination of energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, dynamic and controlled rate thermal analysis techniques. X-ray diffraction shows that the starting material in the thermal decomposition is metatorbernite and the product of the thermal treatment is copper uranyl phosphate. Three steps are observed for the dehydration of metatorbernite. These occur at 138°C with the loss of 1.5 moles of water, 155°C with the loss of 4.5 moles of water, 291°C with the loss of an additional 2 moles of water. These mass losses result in the formation of four phases namely meta(II)torbernite, meta(III)torbernite, meta(IV)torbernite and anhydrous hydrogen uranium copper pyrophosphate. The use of a combination of dynamic and controlled rate thermal analysis techniques enabled a definitive study of the thermal decomposition of metatorbernite. While the temperature ranges and the mass losses vary from author to author due to the different experimental conditions, the results of the CRTA analysis should be considered as standard data due to the quasi-equilibrium nature of the thermal decomposition process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]