Comparison of dolomite decomposition kinetics with related carbonates and the effect of procedural variables on its kinetic parameters

The three naturally occurring available carbonates in northwest Ohio are magnesite, calcite and dolomite. Dolomite is a double carbonate containing calcium and magnesium carbonate in equimolar concentrations. All three carbonates decompose via a single stage process in an atmosphere of nitrogen. The thermal behavior and the kinetics of decomposition were studied using the Arrhenius equation applied to solid-state reactions. It was found that calcite and dolomite supposedly decompose via a zero order mechanism while magnesite decomposes via a first order process. The energy of activation for the decomposition of magnesite, calcite and dolomite were 226.34, 192.50 and 175.05 kJ/mol, respectively. Similarly the ln A-values for magnesite, calcite and dolomite decomposition were 30.70, 20.73 and 18.76, respectively. Finally, the effect of procedural variables on the kinetic parameters of dolomite decomposition was investigated. The three procedural variables studied included flow rate, heating rate and sample size. The kinetic parameters and mechanism remain unaffected by a change in these variables.