Jelena Jakić

Microstructural characteristics of low-temperature (1400°C) sintered MgO obtained from seawater

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a rinsing of Mg(OH)2 precipitated from seawater by substoichiometric precipitation (80% precipitation) and the addition of TiO2 on microstructural characteristics of the MgO obtained by sintering at low temperature (1400 oC). The results of examination indicate that the method of rinsing of the magnesium hydroxide precipitate in the technological process of obtaining MgO from seawater significantly affects the chemical composition of samples, primarily with regard to the CaO and B2O3 content. The samples were doped with TiO2 to improve the evaporation of B2O3 and sintering of MgO samples that were characterized by XRD and SEM/EDS. These techniques confirmed the high purity of MgO samples obtained and the formation of secondary compounds in very small quantities that have a positive effect on the densification.

Characterization of Dolomitic Lime as the Base Reagent for Precipitation of Mg(OH) 2 from Seawater

The process of obtaining magnesium hydroxide from seawater involves precipitation of magnesium ions with suitable basic reagents, such as calcined dolomite. The purity of the magnesium hydroxide precipitate depends on dolomite characteristics; therefore, it is necessary to find high purity dolomite with good physical properties. The aim of this study was to characterize the specific dolomite from the location of Đipalo-Sinj (Croatia), its quality, and the favourable conditions for calcination. Certain physical and chemical characteristics were determined by pure chemical analysis, as well as by using TG/DTG-DTA, FTIR and SEM/EDS analysis. Good chemical quality of dolomitic lime (59.03 wt. % CaO, and 40.69 wt. % MgO) with low content of impurities was confirmed with the TG/DTG-DTA thermal analysis. In the atmosphere of air + CO 2 , dolomite decomposes to CaCO 3 and MgO in a temperature area between 415 and 824 °C; thereafter, another reaction begins – the decomposition reaction of calcium carbonate, completed at 897 °C. In air, the simultaneous decomposition of two carbonates occurs between 657 – 840 °C. The FTIR and EDS analyses confirmed the complete breakdown of carbonates at 950 °C. The main components (Mg, Ca, and O) confirmed the purity of the dolomite lime.