bromidreich

Bromidreich is a German term used in chemistry and geosciences to describe substances or solutions that contain a relatively high concentration of bromide ions (Br−). The term is adjectival and is applied to brines, salts, natural waters, and minerals in which bromide is a dominant or notably abundant halide component compared with chloride or iodide.

Occurrence and formation: In nature, bromide mainly derives from seawater and seawater-derived brines. Because bromide is a conservative ion, it tends to accumulate in closed basins and in evaporitic settings such as salt flats and potash-bearing brine deposits. Industrially, bromidreiche brines can be produced from seawater desalination brines, oilfield brines, or geothermal fluids, and are used as feedstocks for bromine production.

Analytical aspects and properties: Bromide concentration is typically measured by ion chromatography or spectrometric methods. Bromide itself is chemically stable in many environments, but in water treated with chlorine or ozone it can participate in reactions forming disinfection byproducts such as brominated organics or bromate. In high-salinity brines, bromide coexists with chloride, sulfate, and other ions, and the overall ionic strength influences physical properties like density and viscosity.

Applications and relevance: Bromide-rich brines are economically important as sources of bromine, which is extracted by oxidation of bromide to bromine and then processed into various bromine- and brominated compounds. The concept of bromidreich is widely used in German-language geochemistry and industry literature to categorize fluids and deposits with elevated Br−.

See also: Bromide, Halide.