Empirical prediction of the Pitzer’s interaction parameters for cationic Al species with both SiO2(aq) and CO2(aq): Implications for the geochemical modelling of very saline solutions

The Pitzer’s interaction parameters, λN–M, involving the Mth cationic Al species Al3+ or AlOH2+ or AlO+ and the Nth neutral species SiO2(aq) (at temperatures of 25–300 °C) or CO2(aq) (at temperatures of 25–150 °C), have been evaluated through empirical linear relationships between λN–M and the surface electrostatic field of the ionic species of interest. These relationships have been obtained starting from the known λN–M for both SiO2(aq) and CO2(aq) with the main dissolved cations. The Pitzer’s interaction parameter thus estimated for the pair CO2(aq)–Al3+ at 25 °C, 0.327, is 20–40% higher than the corresponding values obtained from CO2 solubilities in concentrated solutions of AlCl3, 0.272 ± 0.010 (2σ), and Al2(SO4)3, 0.232 ± 0.002 (2σ), partly corroborating the empirical approach adopted in this study. To test the Pitzer’s interaction coefficients for cationic Al species with aqueous SiO2, the log K values of the kaolinite dissolution reaction have been computed starting from available experimental data at 23–25 °C and ionic strengths of 0.0001–0.12 mol/kg adopting, alternatively, the Pitzer’s equations and the Debye–Hückel equation. A satisfactory agreement has been found between the log K values obtained through these two approaches, with maximum deviations of 0.11–0.12 log units. This good convergence of results is encouraging as it represents a necessary condition to prove the reliability of the Pitzer’s interaction coefficients estimated in this work. These results are a first step to take into account specific interactions among solutes in concentrated electrolyte solutions, such as those hosted in sedimentary basins or geothermal waters, for instance through the Pitzer’s equations. However, experimental or field data at higher ionic strengths are absolutely necessary to validate the reliability of the Pitzer’s interaction coefficients determined in this study.