An In-situ Investigation of the Solubility of Molybdenum Trioxide in Oxygenated Water at Supercritical Conditions

Abstract

The solubility of MoO₃ in a 1M H₂O₂ aqueous solution was investigated under supercritical conditions in a hydrothermal diamond anvil cell (HDAC).  Quantitative analyses of the aqueous solution in equilibrium with a crystal of MoO₃ were obtained at 400, 450 and 500°C and pressures of 44, 75, and 113 MPa respectively using micro synchrotron x-ray fluorescence (μSXRF).  The μSXRF spectra were collected at the Pacific Northwest Consortium (PNC) x-ray microprobe facility at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory.  It was found that the solubility of MoO₃ in water above the critical point is higher than previously reported.