The use of optimization techniques in the phase identification of sulphation limestone products

Abstract

A new general method has been employed for the solid phase analysis of sulphation limestone products.

The variations in calcium and sulphur concentrations measured along cross-sections of limestone sulphated particles in scanning electron microscope (EDS microanalysis) and the computation of sum of oxides CaO + SO₃, (s) and the molar ratio $\text{CaO}\text{SO}{}_3$, (r) are essential to identifying the compounds which could appear.

The method of estimating the composition of the system uses an optimization technique, the aim of which is to find such component proportions which minimize the differences between the measured and the calculated values of s and r. The method is developed using a computer program which calculates automatically the component proportions for the given system. In the paper the CaSCaSO₄CaOCaCO₃ system is considered. Some experimental examples have also been shown.