Unusual effect of 1,2-octanediol on sodium aluminate solutions leading to inhibition of gibbsite crystallization

The effect of mannitol and 1,2-octanediol on gibbsite crystallization from seeded sodium aluminate liquor was investigated and compared. The inhibitory effect of mannitol increases with its concentration, in good agreement with other strong inhibitors. Low concentrations of 1,2-octanediol have no apparent influence on crystallization but above 1.0 mmol/L severe inhibition occurs with crystallization rate rapidly decreasing until completely stopped 2.0 mmol/L. Unlike with mannitol, the inhibition cannot be alleviated by doubling the seed amount or by adding oleic acid. Unseeded experiments also show that a high concentration of 1,2-octanediol inhibits Al(OH)₃ nucleation while the influence of low concentration of 1,2-octanediol is negligible. 1,2-octanediol appears to be a unique inhibitor for alumina crystallization. The effect is evident below the critical micelle concentration of 1,2-octanediol in sodium aluminate solution indicating it is a molecular effect. Infrared spectroscopy indicates that the structure of the solution might be changed when the concentration of 1,2-octanediol is relatively high. Clearly the inhibition by mannitol derives from adsorption on the active surface sites, while inhibition by 1,2-octanediol appears to be due to changing the characteristic of sodium aluminate liquor.