Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications - digital archive 

Abstract

The kinetics of the reaction of solid sodium carbonate with sulfur dioxide depends on the microstructure of the solid, which in turn is affected by the way and conditions of its preparation. The active form, analogous to that obtained by thermal decomposition of NaHCO₃, emerges from the dehydration of Na₂CO₃ . 10 H₂O in a vacuum or its weathering in air at room temperature. The two active forms are porous and have approximately the same specific surface area. Partial hydration of the active Na₂CO₃ in air at room temperature followed by thermal dehydration does not bring about a significant decrease in reactivity. On the other hand, if the preparation of anhydrous Na₂CO₃ involves, partly or completely, the liquid phase, the reactivity of the product is substantially lower.