Role of temperature in de-mixing absorbance spectra composed of compound electrolyte solutions

This work is focused on the role of temperature in the de-mixing of absorbance spectra measured in mixed aqueous Na₂SO₄ and NaNO₃ solutions. First, the influence of temperature on the absorbance spectrum of demineralized water was determined. Second, the absorbance spectra of five separate electrolytes (NaNO₂, NaNO₃, CaCl₂, K₂CO₃, and NaOH) at three temperatures (4°C, 25°C, and 50°C) for concentrations ranging from 0.0625 M to 0.5 M were examined. These five electrolytes show similar temperature dependencies. Finally, absorbance spectra of mixed solutions were investigated at temperatures of 5°C, 15°C, 25°C, 35°C, and 45°C for concentrations ranging from 0.0625 M to 0.5 M per electrolyte in the mixture. The spectral window from 650 to 1100 nm was utilized to observe the ionic and temperature influences on the vibrational modes of the OH bond in the solvent molecules. The effects of dissolving Na₂SO₄ and NaNO₃ are nonlinearly cumulative at lower temperatures indicating extended alteration of the water structure beyond the first hydration shell. A similar trend was observed for a mixture of Na₂CO₃ and NaCl. Furthermore, it was found that higher temperatures are better for recovering the separate component absorption signatures of an electrolyte mixture. The near-infrared spectral regime is well suited for integrated sensing, and therefore these results can help in designing an integrated sensor to identify inorganic species in water.