KINETICS STUDIES OF MINERAL-WATER REACTIONS IN HYDROTHERMAL FLOW SYSTEMS AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES

This paper describes new experimental results on mlneral-water reaction kinetics obtained in plug-flow systems at high temperatures and pressures. As an example, the rates of reaction between calcite, fluorite, albite and water in the continuous flowing system have been measured in three separate studies. All experiments are carried out by suspending a sample bag in the plug-flow vessel, by pumping water at carefully controlled rates through the vessel, and by collecting and analyzing the reacted solution. In addition, the reaction mechanisms of fluorite and albite in a packed bed reactor have been studied with the aid of an axial dispersion model. The main factors controlling the effective dissolution rate with respect to temperature, solvent flow rate, and chemistry of the input solutions have been evaluated. It is also found that a non-steady state process is, in some cases, still observed, even under conditions where steady state conditions should have been attained. These results provide information useful in developing models for mineral-water reaction kinetics in the open flow system at high temperatures and pressures.

This paper describes new experimental results on mlneral-water reaction kinetics obtained in plug-flow systems at high temperatures and pressures. As an example, the rates of reaction between calcite, fluorite, albite and water in the continuous flowing system have been measured in three separate studies. All experiments are carried out by suspending a sample bag in the plug-flow vessel, by pumping water at carefully controlled rates through the vessel, and by collecting and analyzing the reacted solution. In addition, the reaction mechanisms of fluorite and albite in a packed bed reactor have been studied with the aid of an axial dispersion model. The main factors controlling the effective dissolution rate with respect to temperature, solvent flow rate, and chemistry of the input solutions have been evaluated. It is also found that a non-steady state process is, in some cases, still observed, even under conditions where steady state conditions should have been attained. These results provide