Impact of Magnetized Modified Water on the Dissolution Behavior of Raw Gypsum

Abstract

Magnetized modified water could significantly affect the dissolution and crystallization process of raw gypsum, while the mechanism was still unclear. In this work, the enhancement mechanism of raw gypsum solubility by magnetized modified water was first systemically investigated. Viscosity, surface tension analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) exhibited that magnetization treatment could significantly change the properties of distilled water and the microstructure of raw gypsum. Magnetization treatment reduced the surface tension and viscosity of distilled water and increased the proportion of hydrophilic hydroxyl group in distilled water, which promoted the molecular affinity between water molecules and raw gypsum, resulting in an enhanced affinity between Ca²⁺ ions and water molecules at the active site of raw gypsum surface. In addition, an applied magnetic field leaded to a decreased crystallinity and an increase in the (020) interplanar spacing of raw gypsum, which was conducive to contact with water, and finally enhanced the solubility of raw gypsum by 65.50%. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the use of magnetized modified water to regulate the dissolution behavior of raw gypsum.