A Comprehensive Characterization of Zinc Chloride: Unveiling its Role as a Hygroscopic Preservative and Drying Agent through Elemental, Structural, and Morphological Analysis

Abstract

This study presents a detailed investigation of Zinc Chloride( )) utilizing the following different analytical techniques, X-ray diffraction(XRD), Electron Dispersive Spectroscope (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Zinc Chloride was synthesized using the hydrothermal method. The elemental, structural, morphological, and optical properties of Zinc Chloride ( )) were thoroughly analyzed. The hygroscopic nature and properties of Zinc Chloride upon exposition to air was revealed and its weight/mass measurement was done within five days at the same time interval. EDS measurements show the composition of zinc chloride with a dominant weight percentage of Zinc of 77.76%, Chlorine weight of 2.00%, and oxygen of 20.24% serving as an impurity or contaminant. SEM) scanning electron microscope observations indicated crystal agglomeration, smooth surfaces, absence of hair-like textures, and a minimal presence of impurities within the zinc chloride sample. Moreover, the SEM analysis indicated that zinc chloride exhibited a rod-like crystal morphology. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed phase identification of the sample, crystallographic texture, and residual stress and strain of the sample. TEM visualized the particle size distribution, crystal shapes, and surface characteristics. The atomic values of in percentage is 55.00, 5.22, and 39.78 respectively. The shape of Zinc Chloride particle is hexagonal and the particle size ranges between 3.22nm and 15.30nm when the wavelength is 100nm. The hygroscopic nature of zinc chloride was confirmed upon exposure to ambient air. Based on the findings, this research unequivocally establishes zinc chloride as a hygroscopic compound with significant potential for application as a preservative and desiccant across diverse industrial domains.