Determination of growth rates and supersaturations associated with the formation of spherulitic lead calcium apatite.

  • Che Singh

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

The addition of phosphate to tap waters passing through lead pipes is the primary method used to manage lead concentrations in the United Kingdom. This process is poorly comprehended but is believed to involve the production of phosphate containing apatite minerals which control the corrosion of soluble lead components found in the pipes scale. The following research is aimed at gaining a greater understanding of phosphate mineralisation by investigating a variety of conditions leading to the formation lead calcium apatite crystals with a specific spherulitic morphology. Synthetic tap water experiments were optimised for the production of the target mineral in a coupled dissolution-reprecipitation reaction with hydrocerussite where XRD, SEM and EDS monitored mineral changes and ICP-MS monitored changes to the solution. It was found that soft waters coupled with a high concentration of phosphate in the presence of citrate produced lead calcium apatite spherulites the fastest where pH and water hardness affected the transformation and growth rates the greatest.
Date of Award21 Oct 2024
Original languageEnglish
SupervisorSandra Hernandez Aldave (Main Supervisor)

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