Reaction mechanisms for silicate mineral dissolution
EMSL Project ID
1717
Abstract
The rates of reaction between silicate minerals and glasses and aqueous solutions is of great scientific and technological interest. For example, these reaction rates determine how fast carbonic acid, from carbon dioxide, is consumed by weathering reactions and how fast silicate glasses break down to release their load of radionuclides and/or toxic elements. As the result of a recent detailed study of forsterite (Mg2SiO4) dissolution rates, Rosso and Rimstidt (in press) proposed a new reaction mechanism that could be generalized to other silicate phases. The purpose of this project is to further test this reaction mechanism to determine whether the proposed electron redistribution patterns are consistent with those predicted by ab initio models. If this modelling effort is successful, we expect to write a short paper describing the results and furthermore, to use these results to justify further research along these lines. We will prepare a proposal for further work to be submitted to NSF.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
1999-11-01
End Date
2002-09-10
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator