New Insights Into The Role Of Solution Additive Anions In Mg2+ Dehydration: Implications For Mineral Carbonation

Simulations of hydrated Mg2+, in the absence and presence of several solution additive anions, show that in pure liquid water Mg(H2O)(6)(2+) is the only stable coordination state; yet anions may stabilise undercoordinated five-hydration configurations. Solution composition can lower the barrier to Mg2+ dehydration and subsequent incorporation into the lattice of Mg-carbonates, promoting low-temperature crystallisation.