NEW APPROACH TO THE ALKALI-CARBONATE REAC TION-MECHANISM

This study shows that the alkali-dolomite-reaction does not follow the schematic two step mechanism generally adopted. It expresses mainly t he displacement of the dolomite dissolution equilibrum, under the acti on of hydroxyl ions. The reaction products depend on the relative acti vities (concentrations) of Ca++ and Na+. The high values of the [Ca++] /[Na+]2 ratio encourage the crystallization of brucite and calcite whi le the lower values give brucite and pirssonite.