In situ monitoring station for silica scaling formation

This thesis has been focused on the design and further development of an istrument able to automatically measure the silica concentration in waters. This prototype has been especially designed for geothermal waters and several experiments have been run in the geothermal facility of Hellisheidi (Iceland). In addition, other series of experiments have been carried out in the laboratory in order to gain insight into the proccesses and mechanisms which manage the nucleation and further growth of silica.