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Simulation of acid rain weathering effect on natural and artificial carbonate stones

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Abstract

Atmospheric pollutants are changing due to policies aiming at attenuating climate change. Some of the results of these measures are the current inversion on the SO2/NOx proportion and the pH increase of acid rains to 5 in some areas. The aim of this study was to have a better understanding of the relation between the microstructural and chemical characteristics of carbonated stones and their response to acid rain effects. This work also compared the response of natural stones as opposed to an artificial stone used in their replacement in the Orval Abbey (Belgium). Three natural and one reconstituted stones were selected. Nitric and sulphuric acidic solutions at pH = 5 were tested. For each solution, two tests of “passive immersion” and “active immersion” were conducted. Variations in weight, porosity, dissolved concentrations, colour and surface topography were measured. Stone SEM observations were additionally performed. The results indicate that active immersion is more effective than the passive one. The pore connectivity plays a key role in the stone dissolution and entails a difference between passive and active conditions. The different effect of nitric and sulphuric acids is related to the stone type. In spite of the initial presence of sulphur, the artificial stone appears less sensitive than the natural stone it replaces, due to its low pore connectivity and the concentrated distribution of iron oxides.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by Reims Metropole with the Project IFEPAR (2014–2017). The authors want to thank Xavier Drothière and Alexandra Conreux for technical and analytical support. Special thanks to Arlette Thomachot for English correction and improvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Groupe d’Etudes sur les Géomatériaux et les Environnements Naturels, Anthropiques et Archéologiques (GEGENAA, EA 3795), Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 2, Esplanade Roland Garros, 51100, Reims, France

    S. Eyssautier-Chuine, B. Marin, C. Thomachot-Schneider, G. Fronteau, S. Gibeaux & P. Vazquez

  2. Centre de Recherche en Sciences et Techniques de l’Information de la Communication (CReSTIC, EA 3804), Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, IFTS, 7, Boulevard Jean Delautre, 08000, Charleville-Mézières, France

    A. Schneider

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  1. S. Eyssautier-Chuine
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  4. G. Fronteau
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Correspondence to S. Eyssautier-Chuine.

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This article is part of a Topical Collection in Environmental Earth Sciences on “Geomaterials used as construction raw materials and their environmental interactions” guest edited by Richard Přikryl, Ákos Török, Magdalini Theodoridou and Miguel Gomez-Heras.

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Eyssautier-Chuine, S., Marin, B., Thomachot-Schneider, C. et al. Simulation of acid rain weathering effect on natural and artificial carbonate stones. Environ Earth Sci 75, 748 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5555-z

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