Nucleation of ammonium salts in aqueous solution by high pressure

Abstract

We demonstrate a new apparatus for optical observation under high pressure conditions with 4-way optical glasses. We use the proposed apparatus to study solubility of ammonium salts in aqueous solutions and to measure the nucleation pressure for different concentrations of salts in the solution. Despite the fact that the solubility of electrolytes usually increases as the pressure increases, it is found that the solubility of ammonium salts decreases as the pressure increases. In both cases, high pressure can be used towards a crystallization process. Finally, we observe high pressure induced nucleation of electrolytes in an aqueous solution. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.