Metastable phase equilibria for the ternary aqueous system of lithium sulfate and potassium sulfate at T = 308.15 K: Experimental data and prediction using Pitzer model

Abstract

The metastable solubilities and the physicochemical properties including density, refractive index, pH and conductivity in the ternary system (Li₂SO₄ + K₂SO₄ + H₂O) at T = 308.15 K were determined experimentally using the isothermal evaporation method, and the metastable phase diagram and the physicochemical properties versus composition diagram were plotted. In the metastable phase diagram, there are two invariant points, three univariant curves and three crystallization regions corresponding to lithium sulfate monohydrate (Li₂SO₄ · H₂O), double salt (K₂SO₄ · Li₂SO₄) and arcanite (K₂SO₄). It was found that the double salt of K₂SO₄·Li₂SO₄ belongs to the incongruent double salt, and the hydrate of Li₂SO₄ · H₂O belongs to hydrate type I. On the basis of Pitzer model of the electrolyte solution theory, the mixing-ion parameter of θ_Li,K, \({\Psi _{Li,K,S{O_4}}}\) and the metastable equilibrium constants of the solid phases K₂SO₄, Li₂SO₄ · K2SO4 and Li₂-SO₄ · H₂O at 308.15 K were obtained for the first time. The calculated metastable solubility data for this ternary system at 308.15 K agree well with the experimental values, and this result indicates that the mixing-ion parameters and the metastable equilibrium constants obtained in this work are reliable.