Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and structure refinement of chlorate- and perchlorate-sodalite

Chlorate- and perchlorate-sodalites were synthesized hydrothermally in the temperature range of 160°C to 500°C. IR absorption bands indicate the enclathration of NaClO₃ (624 cm^?1) and NaClO₄ (624 cm^?1 and 2050 cm^?1) in the sodalite cages. The thermal decomposition has been characterized by simultaneous thermal analysis (TG, DTG, DTA) and high temperature X-ray powder diffraction. The total collapse of the sodalite framework structure and the formation of nepheline could be observed at 750°C and 1100°C for chlorate-sodalite and perchlorate-sodalite, respectively.

The crystal structure has been determined for NaClO₄-sodalite showing cubic symmetry (a₀=9.071 Å, SG P 3n) and complete ordering of Si and Al in the silicate framework; the Si-O-Al angle is 146.7°. The Cl atoms of the enclathrated perchlorate are located at the central positions of the sodalite cages. For the oxygen atoms of the Cl₄^? anions the structure refinement led to orientationally disordered sites having a close resemblance to the well-known O(2) positions of basic sodalite Na₈AlSiO₄]₆(OH)₂·2 H₂O.