Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-495rp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-10-02T16:22:25.511Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effect of uncertainties in stability constants on speciation diagrams

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2011

Arvid Ödegaard-Jensen
Affiliation:
Dept. Nuclear Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, S-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden.
Christian Ekberg
Affiliation:
Dept. Nuclear Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, S-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden.
Gunther Meinrath
Affiliation:
RER Consultants Passau, Schieβstattweg 3a, D-94032 Passau, Germany Technical University Mining Academy Freiberg, Institute of Geology, D-09596 Freiberg, Germany
Get access

Abstract

Speciation calculations are one of the more common ways to describe a chemical system. Speciation diagrams is a convenient way to display such calculations and may also be the basis on which experiments in neighbouring fields of interest, such as sorption are based. In earlier days only very simple problems could be described, e.g. hydroxide species dominance diagrams versus pH. With the aid of computers, however, more complicated systems such as groundwater chemistry may be used. However, as the complexity increase, so does the effect of uncertainties. In this paper we focus on the effect uncertainties in stability constants may have on speciation calculations. The common belief is that the curves will be replaced by narrow bands, while the truth is far from that. In many cases one or several species cover the entire region between 0 and 100%.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Meinrath, G (2001) Measurement Uncertainty of Thermodynamic Data, Fresenius J Anal Chem 369:690697 Google Scholar
2. Ekberg, C., Emrén, A., Uncertainties in Solubility Calculations, Monatshefte für Chemie 132, 11711179 (2001)Google Scholar
3. Ekberg, C., Ödegaard-Jensen, A and Meinrath, G, Ljungskile, A computer program for investigation of uncertainties in chemical speciation, SKI report in progress.Google Scholar
4. Bi, S.P., An, S.Q., Tang, W., Yang, M., Qian, H.F., Wang, J., Modeling the distribution of aluminium speciation in acid soil solution equilibria with the mineral phase alunite, Environmental Geology (2001) 41:2536 Google Scholar
5. Grenthe, I., Fuger, J., Konings, R.J.M., Lemire, R.J., Muller, A.B., Nyugen-Trung, C. and Wanner, H., Chemical Thermodynamics of Uranium, North Holland, Amsterdam, 1992.Google Scholar
6. Parkhurst, D.L. (1995) User Guide to PHREEQEC – A Computer Program for Speciation, Reaction-Path, Advective-Transport, and Inverse Geochemical Calculations. WaterResources Investigations Report 95–42227. U.S. Geological Survey Lakewood, Colorado/USAGoogle Scholar