The diffusion coefficient of dissolved silica revisited

The diffusion coefficient of dissolved silica was determined for two different salinities, 36 and 0, at temperatures ranging from 2 °C to 30 °C and at an average pH value of 8.1. Our results show limited influence of salinity and a variation by a factor of 2 to 3 of the silica diffusion coefficient within the temperature range considered in this study. The values obtained at 25 °C are in agreement with previous work carried out at room temperature for seawater and freshwater. The dependency on temperature and viscosity of the diffusion coefficient agrees well with the Einstein–Stokes equation. The composition of the solvent appears to be an important factor because it modifies the viscosity and allows for the complexation of the dissolved silica with less mobile ions, while its pH controls the dissolved silica speciation. In seawater, the higher viscosity and the presence of dissociated and polymeric species result in a decrease of the diffusion coefficient compared to freshwater systems.