Effects of CO(3)(2−) and OH(−) on the solubility, metastable zone width and nucleation kinetics of borax decahydrate

Measurements of the solubility and metastable zone width (MZW) of borax decahydrate in sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide aqueous were obtained. The onsets of nucleation were detected by the turbidity technique with the temperature range from 285 to 315 K. The results showed that the solubility of borax gradually decreased and the MZW broadened with the mass percentage of sodium carbonate increasing from 0% up to 9.22%. Correspondingly, the solubility and MZW had the same trend with the addition of sodium hydroxide. Meanwhile, the nucleation parameters of borax were determined and analysed to explain the trends obtained. Applying the classical three-dimensional nucleation theory approach, it was found that the addition of carbonate and hydroxide ions led to the values of solid–liquid interfacial energy (γ) increasing, which indicated the CO(3)(2−) and OH(−) ions adsorbed on the nuclei but suppressed nucleation rate.