Temperature- and time-resolved investigation of the long- and short-range structures of novel water filter materials

Dypingite is a poorly investigated magnesium hydroxy-hydrated carbonate with a nominal composition of Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·xH2O, where x = 5–8. It is a naturally occurring mineral that sequestrates effectively heavy metals from water. To understand phenomena behind the material physical & chemical behaviour, the detailed comprehension of its crystal structure is indispensable. The main goal of the proposed study is to follow temperature-induced structural changes occurring in samples of natural and synthetic dypingite, as well as of newly identified phase, with the similar structural and functional properties (hereafter referred to as UK). The samples will be investigated with temperature-dependent in situ (high-resolution) synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (SR-PXD), coupled with total scattering analysis and mass spectrometry (MS). The obtained results are expected to provide the better understating of structural and functional properties of both studied compositions.