The thermal decomposition of iron sulphate hexahydrate was studied by
thermogravimetry at a heating rate of 5 degrees C min(-1) in static ai
r. The kinetic parameters were evaluated using the integral method by
applying the Coats and Redfern approximation. The thermal stabilities
of the hydrates were found to vary in the order. Fe-2(SO4)(3) . 6H(2)O
--> Fe-2(SO4)(3) . 4.5H(2)O --> Fe-2(SO4)(3) . 0.5H(2)O The dehydrati
on process of hydrated iron sulphate was found to conform to random nu
cleation mass loss kinetics, and the activation energies of the respec
tive hydrates were 89.82, 105.04 and 172.62 kJ mol(-1), respectively.
The decomposition process of anhydrous iron sulphate occurs in the tem
perature region between 810 and 960 K with activation energies 526.52
kJ mol(-1) for the D3 model or 256.05 kJ mol(-1) for the R3 model.