The Effect of Solvent Polarity on Phase Transformation of Citrogypsum via Hydrothermal Process

Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4•2H2O, CSD), gypsum is a by-product in the production of citric acid (citryogypsum). This by-product could neither be exploited nor distributed as a reactant because of its physical properties including those that are not equivalent to natural gypsum. Moreover, the mentioned citrogypsum has been continually increasing environmental problems. Therefore, this research aims at how to recycle gypsum that is synthesized by hydrothermal method at 95oC for 7 hrs under the atmospheric pressure via different solutions (MeOH, EtOH, PrOH, BuOH and Hexane). In order to produce alpha-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (α-CaSO4•0.5H2O, α-CSH) with improved physical properties that will be used for different industries. FT-IR reveals the chemical composition of crystal and the adsorption of methyl group on the surface. Besides, TGA thermogram shows the theoretical crystal water content of CSD and α-CSH 20.9 wt% and 6.2 wt% respectively. The DSC thermogram, shows that endothermic peaks at 151.2 oC and 168.5 oC. There were two steps of loss at 1.5 and 0.5 water molecule respectively. With SEM images of crystal shows the plate-like shape of citrogypsum, while α-CSH shows the hexagonal shape excluding hexane solution. Of all the results, the polarity of solution has an impact on the transition of CSD to α-CSH under this condition.