MODELING OF MULTICOMPONENT SALT SYSTEMS - APPLICATION TO SEA-WATER AND BRINES - I - DERIVATION OF THE MODEL

The solubility of a salt in saturated solution is described in terms o f heterogeneous reaction between solid and liquid and an equation of t he solubility field is established for each solid phase (limiting or i ntermediate phase) of a multicomponent aqueous salt system. The model supposes that solid phases are stoichiometric and that the solution is a strong electrolyte. It includes all sub-systems and the procedure u sed for the calculation of coefficients is described. The equations al low the critical evaluation of solubility data, the calculation of pha se diagrams and the determination of equilibrium (proportion and natur e of phases) under any conditions of temperature and composition. The application to the sub-systems involved in sea water and natural brine s will be developed in forthcoming publications.