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Article

Experimental Optimization, Scaling Up, and Characterization for Continuous Aragonite Synthesis from Lime Feedstock Using Magnesium Chloride as Chemical Inducer

by
Mohammad Ghaddaffi M. Noh
1,2,*,
Nor Yuliana Yuhana
2,
Mohammad Hafizuddin Hj Jumali
3,
Mohammad Syazwan Onn
1 and
Ruzilah Sanum
1
1
PETRONAS Research Sdn. Bhd, Lot 3288 & 3289, Off Jalan Ayer Itam, Kawasan Institusi Bangi, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
2
Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
3
Department of Applied Physics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Processes 2025, 13(10), 3142; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13103142
Submission received: 15 May 2025 / Revised: 30 July 2025 / Accepted: 21 August 2025 / Published: 30 September 2025

Abstract

The current state of the art research, and latest engineering technology application in the synthesis of the aragonite crystalline phase of calcium carbonate is presented here. Aragonite crystalline products are highly valuable in selected industries, such as medical and personal care, and in food additives using MgCl2 as a chemical inducer. The outcome of this literature review provides the outlook of the available research whitespace opportunity in optimizing the current process parameters and in ensuring that sustainable and economically feasible continuous production of aragonite products could be achieved. One of the major improvements proposed in this study is to investigate the methods of synthesizing aragonite crystalline particles using a continuous mineral carbonation reactor system and optimizing the operating parameters. An experimental design was established to identify all the main effects to maximize aragonite production. The three main effects investigated are the effect of feedstock or reactant concentration, the effect of reaction temperature, and the effect of reaction time towards aragonite yield in the final products synthesized. An optimized operating parameter for maximum aragonite yield at 95% purity was proposed at the reaction temperature T of 90 °C, reaction time t of 10 min, and feedstock ratio Mg-to-Ca of 0.4. Subsequently, the continuous reactor system was designed, operated, and tested for at least 50 h operation, where the lime CaO(s) feed was successfully converted into aragonite products with purity between 75 and 81%. The properties and quality of the aragonite produced were analytically characterized from the following laboratory methods which include the thermalgravimetric analysis, TGA; X-Ray Diffraction, XRD; scanning electron microscopy, SEM; and induction coupled plasma, ICP. TGA mass balance after decomposition suggests that 44% of the mass balance represents the weight of CO2 sequestered in the aragonite crystalline carbonates. Hence, the aragonite crystalline carbonates can be labeled as a green product which sequesters 0.44 kg of CO2 per 1 kg of precipitated aragonite products synthesized. Interestingly, SEM microscopy characterization results revealed that the aragonite precipitate has a physical morphology of needle-like shape with a good aspect ratio (length/diameter) AR of between 8.67 micron and 11.35 micron. The properties were found to be suitable for paper making fillers, medical, personal care, and food additive applications.
Keywords: chemical engineering; process; CO2-conversion; mineral-carbonation; calcium carbonate; aragonite; sustainability chemical engineering; process; CO2-conversion; mineral-carbonation; calcium carbonate; aragonite; sustainability

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MDPI and ACS Style

Noh, M.G.M.; Yuhana, N.Y.; Jumali, M.H.H.; Onn, M.S.; Sanum, R. Experimental Optimization, Scaling Up, and Characterization for Continuous Aragonite Synthesis from Lime Feedstock Using Magnesium Chloride as Chemical Inducer. Processes 2025, 13, 3142. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13103142

AMA Style

Noh MGM, Yuhana NY, Jumali MHH, Onn MS, Sanum R. Experimental Optimization, Scaling Up, and Characterization for Continuous Aragonite Synthesis from Lime Feedstock Using Magnesium Chloride as Chemical Inducer. Processes. 2025; 13(10):3142. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13103142

Chicago/Turabian Style

Noh, Mohammad Ghaddaffi M., Nor Yuliana Yuhana, Mohammad Hafizuddin Hj Jumali, Mohammad Syazwan Onn, and Ruzilah Sanum. 2025. "Experimental Optimization, Scaling Up, and Characterization for Continuous Aragonite Synthesis from Lime Feedstock Using Magnesium Chloride as Chemical Inducer" Processes 13, no. 10: 3142. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13103142

APA Style

Noh, M. G. M., Yuhana, N. Y., Jumali, M. H. H., Onn, M. S., & Sanum, R. (2025). Experimental Optimization, Scaling Up, and Characterization for Continuous Aragonite Synthesis from Lime Feedstock Using Magnesium Chloride as Chemical Inducer. Processes, 13(10), 3142. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13103142

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