Investigation of nucleation and crystal growth kinetics of nickel manganese oxalates

The nucleation and the crystal growth rates of mixed nickel manganese oxalates have been determined from the changes of the ionic concentration of the solution and the crystal size distribution during the precipitation process within a supersaturation range 0-0.1 M. Thermodynamic solubility calculations have been used to identify the different species contributing the precipitation reaction and for estimation of the thermodynamic constant. Experimental data show that the nucleation rate of mixed nickel manganese oxalate in this supersaturation range is consistent with a primary heterogeneous mechanism and was found to obey to an exponential law. The crystal growth rates indicate a surface-integration-controlled mechanism with a first-order law with respect to the supersaturation.