Study on morphology of silicic acid polymerization process in different systems

Xin Sui, Yu Liu, Baohui Wang,

Abstract

This study focuses on the silicate systems in artificial mineralized water, the micro-topography pictures of the silica scales were observed in different solutions (single-silicon solution, Ca2+, Mg2+ and silicon co-existing solution, Ca2+, Mg2+, polyacrylamide(PAM) and silicon co-existing solution, Ca2+, Mg2+, surfactant ORS-41 and silicon co-existing solution, Si4+ solution with Ca2+, Mg2+, PAM and surfactant ORS-41) by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at room temperature. The micro-topography was varied in different systems. The results show that silica scale mainly aggregated from spherical particles; silica scale is flaky or lumpy in Si4+ solution with Ca2+, Mg2+, PAM and surfactant ORS-41.