A CALCITE DISSOLUTION MODEL FOR THE ESTIMATION OF PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION

Since reactions of solid phase carbonates generally occur as surface reactions, the reactive surface area and particle size distribution become important considerations. The objective of this study was to develop and test a stochastic model for the dissolution of calcite in which particle size is treated as a random variable. When used in conjunction with pH-stat steady-state dissolution procedure, the stochastic model provides a method to obtain estimates of particle size distribution of calcite in mixed particle size systems. The stochastic model was developed from a deterministic model which is based on the equal diameter reduction hypothesis. The deterministic model differs from the stochastic model in that a uniform particle size is assumed in the former and a distribution of particle sizes in the latter. Refs.