Effect of polybasic acids on structure of aluminum hydroxycarbonate gel

The effect of oxalic acid, citric acid, and their sodium salts on the structure of aluminum hydroxycarbonate gel was studied to illustrate the various mechanisms by which polybasic acids interact with aluminum hydroxycarbonate gel. Analysis of changes in the pH-stat titrigram, the carbonate to aluminum ratio, the aluminum content of the supernate following centrifugation, and the adsorption of the organic solute indicates that polybasic acids may: (a) partially neutralize the aluminum hydroxycarbonate gel by a general acid effect, (b) modify the aluminum hydroxycarbonate surface by adsorption of the anionic form of the polybasic acid, (c) extract aluminum by the formation of a soluble complex, and (d) lead to the precipitation of a new crystalline phase.