Determination of dissolution kinetics of K2SO4 crystal with ion selective electrode

The dissolution kinetics of potassium sulfate crystals was studied and the effects of hydrodynamic situation and temperature on the dissolution were investigated. The dissolution was determined by measuring the change of electromotive force (E) with the potassium ion selective electrode. From the values of E, the concentration of K+ was calculated combined with an activity coefficient model. The results are accurate and rapid, the maximum deviation is less than 2%. Theory, developed for constant bulk concentration in a rotating disk system, was modified in order to analyze the general grain dissolution process. Normal distribution was introduced in calculating the area of crystals in order to obtain reliable dissolution rate. Using the modified theory diffusion rate constant, equilibrium exchange rate constant and thickness of diffusion layer were obtained. It is found that the diffusion rate constants increase while the thickness of diffusion layer decreases with the increase of temperature and stirring speed; the equilibrium exchange rate is dependent on bulk concentration. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.