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High-pressure neutron diffraction study of superhydrated natrolite.
Marek Colligan1, Yongjae Lee, Thomas Vogt
1School of Chemistry, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|July 21, 2006
Summary
High pressure reveals new details about superhydrated natrolite. Researchers elucidated water
Area of Science:
- Mineralogy
- Crystallography
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Natrolite is a common zeolite mineral.
- Zeolites can incorporate significant amounts of water.
- Understanding water behavior in zeolites under pressure is crucial for geological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structure and hydrogen bonding of water in superhydrated natrolite at high pressure.
- To determine the energetic factors responsible for water loss upon pressure release.
Main Methods:
- Neutron powder diffraction was performed on a superhydrated natrolite sample mixed with perdeuterated methanol and water.
- Data were collected at a pressure of 1.87 GPa.
- Bond valence sums were calculated for water oxygen atoms.
Main Results:
- The structure of water in superhydrated natrolite at 1.87 GPa was determined for the first time.
- The hydrogen bonding network of the water molecules was elucidated.
- Poor coordination of water oxygen to sodium cations was identified as a key energetic factor.
Conclusions:
- The study provides unprecedented insight into water behavior in natrolite under high pressure.
- The findings explain the mechanism of water expulsion from natrolite upon pressure reduction.
- This research has implications for understanding water transport and storage in the Earth's crust.