MECHANISM AND KINETICS OF THE DEHYDRATION OF MAGNESIUM OXALATE DIHYDRATE

This paper describes the process of random nucleation and subsequent growth of the crystal nucleus, starting by setting up a physical model. A formula for the specific rate of the reaction has been worked out both in the induction period and in the period of increasing reaction rate. Thus the calculation of activation energy has been done for both periods. Then, taking the dehydration of magnesium oxalate dihydrate as an example, the model and formula were both tested. Experiments prove that the nucleation processes comply with the power function rules. In the period of crystal nucleus formation and growth, the activation energy is 82.49 kJ mol-1. In the diffusion period the activation energy becomes larger when alpha increases. The result is in satisfactory agreement with literature data.