Desorption of nitric acid from boehmite and gibbsite

Solid-state Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), evolved gas analysis-FTIR (EGA-FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to investigate the desorption of nitric acid from boehmite and from gibbsite. Samples containing between 3 and 36% of adsorbed nitric acid by mass were prepared by placing the mineral in a 70% nitric acid solution or by the adsorption of nitric acid vapors in humid air. FTIR established that water-solvated nitrate was the main species adsorbed on the surface of either mineral under these conditions. The water-solvated nitrate vaporized as nitric acid at approximately 400 K with an enthalpy of desorption of approximately 50 kJ/mol for both surfaces. A second nitric acid desorption occurred at approximately 450 K and had an enthalpy of desorption of 85 kJ/mol (95 kJ/mol) for boehmite (gibbsite). This was assigned as desorption of partially solvated aluminum hydroxylated nitrate. Monodentate and bridging nitrate were also observed on the boehmite. These species desorbed at approximately 725 K as NO2 and O2 with an enthalpy of reaction of approximately 55 kJ/mol of NO2 desorbed.