DTA and FT-IR analysis of the rehydration of basic magnesium carbonate

The rehydration characteristics of a commercially produced hydromagnesite and two basic magnesium carbonates synthetically produced from Mg(OH)2, are presented. The products were dehydrated and dehydroxylated at 325°C before rehydration was attempted. DTA and FT-IR were used to follow the structural changes that occurred during the rehydration processes. The results obtained for the commercially and synthetically produced hydromagnesite products indicated that the original symmetry of the groups was reclaimed during rehydration. This was not observed for the synthetically produced unidentified basic magnesium carbonate product. This investigation provides insight into the rehydration characteristics of a select group of basic magnesium carbonates.