Carbonates Volume II

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineralogical Crystallography and Biomineralization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 21271

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Guest Editor
Department of Earth Sciences, Interdepartmental Centre “Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces-NIS”, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy
Interests: crystal growth; epitaxy; surface; interface; calcite; gypsum; apatite; zeolite
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Even though the study of the minerals belonging to the group of carbonates is a longstanding and sound out topic, its relevance remains unchanged, due to the countless implications for a wide range of disciplines, from mineralogy and geology to biology, medicine, and industry. Moreover, the study of the interactions between carbonates and other minerals, such as phosphates, or between carbonates and organics, may disclose new opportunities for understanding the mechanisms involved in natural phenomena, such as biomineralization.

The goal of this Special Issue on "Carbonates"; is to provide a comprehensive overview about both the state-of-the-art and recent advances in crystal growth and characterization of carbonate phases, pointing out the mechanisms of growth, the interactions among phases, and the applications.
Scientists working in a wide range of disciplines are invited to contribute to this Special Issue.

The topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Natural and synthetic carbonates
  • Crystal growth of carbonates
  • Epitaxial relationships
  • Twinning
  • Bioinspired/biomimetic materials
  • Inorganic/organic self-organized materials (nacreous-like materials)
  • Inorganic complex systems (such as carbonate/phosphate for example)
  • Applications

Dr. Linda Pastero
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • carbonates
  • crystal growth
  • epitaxy
  • self-organized materials
  • bio-mineralogy
  • bio-inspired materials
  • bio-mimetic materials
  • environmental mineralogy

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3000 KiB  
Article
Calcium Carbonate in Bio-Based Material and Factor Affecting Its Precipitation Rate for Repairing Concrete
by Prima Yane Putri, Isao Ujike, Nevy Sandra, Fitra Rifwan and Totoh Andayono
Crystals 2020, 10(10), 883; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10100883 - 29 Sep 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3309
Abstract
The use of bio-based material for repairing concrete is a relatively new method. Therefore, more results from simulated real-condition experiments are needed before being applied on a practical scale. In the recent past, several studies have been conducted on the improvement of bio-based [...] Read more.
The use of bio-based material for repairing concrete is a relatively new method. Therefore, more results from simulated real-condition experiments are needed before being applied on a practical scale. In the recent past, several studies have been conducted on the improvement of bio-based repair materials. In this study, the bio-based material involving yeast, glucose, and calcium acetate mixed in a Tris buffer solution showed the potential to develop a microbial process leading to the precipitation of calcium carbonate. We investigated the factors affecting the precipitation rate of the calcium carbonate of bio-based materials for repairing leakage in the concrete specimens. Based on a series of experiments involving temperature, the type of dry yeast, and the concentration of the Tris buffer solution, the composition of bio-based materials with the highest precipitation rate of calcium carbonate was selected. The selected mixture could be applied to repair leakage of concrete until the cracks are sealed entirely. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates Volume II)
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14 pages, 3823 KiB  
Article
CO2 Capture in A Bubble-Column Scrubber Using MEA/CaCl2/H2O Solution—Absorption and Precipitation
by Pao Chi Chen and Shiun Huang Zhuo
Crystals 2020, 10(8), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10080694 - 11 Aug 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3617
Abstract
This study used the solvent monoethylamine (MEA)/CaCl2/H2O to investigate CO2 absorption and CaCO3 crystallization in a bubble column scrubber. The variables explored were pH, gas flow rate, gas concentration, the liquid flow rate of the solution to [...] Read more.
This study used the solvent monoethylamine (MEA)/CaCl2/H2O to investigate CO2 absorption and CaCO3 crystallization in a bubble column scrubber. The variables explored were pH, gas flow rate, gas concentration, the liquid flow rate of the solution to absorb CO2, and CaCO3 crystallization. Under a continuous mode, the solution of CaCl2 was fed continuously, and the pH dropped after CO2 absorption. To maintain the set pH value, there was an automatic input of the MEA solvent into the bubble column. In addition to maintaining the pH, the solution could also absorb CO2 and produce CaCO3 crystals, which served two purposes. The results showed that there were mainly vaterite crystals. At different pH values, the lower the pH, the higher the precipitation rate of vaterite (Fp), and vice versa. However, under different gas flow rates, the Fp decreased as the pH value increased. Additionally, the process variables also affected the absorption rate (RA) and the overall mass-transfer coefficient (KGa) generally increased with increasing pH, gas concentration, and gas flow rate. However, it slowed down under operating conditions at high pH and high gas flow rate. Finally, correlation equations for RA, KGa, and Fp were also obtained and discussed in the study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates Volume II)
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13 pages, 5789 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Carboxylic Polymers with Low Molecular Weight as Inhibitors for Calcium Carbonate Scale
by Yuwei Zuo, Wenzhong Yang, Kegui Zhang, Yun Chen, Xiaoshuang Yin and Ying Liu
Crystals 2020, 10(5), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10050406 - 19 May 2020
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4606
Abstract
Poly acrylic acid (PAA) and polyepoxysuccinic acid (PESA) were investigated as scale inhibitors. The static experiments certified that PAA was superior to PESA for the inhibition of calcium carbonate in the low molecular weight range. The X-ray diffraction patterns suggest that the effect [...] Read more.
Poly acrylic acid (PAA) and polyepoxysuccinic acid (PESA) were investigated as scale inhibitors. The static experiments certified that PAA was superior to PESA for the inhibition of calcium carbonate in the low molecular weight range. The X-ray diffraction patterns suggest that the effect of PAA on the calcite (1 0 4) and (1 1 0) crystal plane was more obvious. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the surface morphology of the depositions, which indicated that the addition of scale inhibitors could disturb the normal growth of CaCO3 scale. The transmittance ratio of ferric oxide demonstrated that PAA had a better dispersion performance than PESA. The molecular dynamics simulation and quantum calculation were selected to theoretically explore the mechanism and structure of scale inhibitors, indicating that the interaction of PAA with (1 0 4) and (1 1 0) calcite crystal surfaces was stronger than PESA. In addition, the results indicated that the PAA with negative charge more easily adsorbed free Ca2+ in the aqueous phase. Based on these observations, PAA exhibited better scale inhibition and dispersion effects than PESA in the case of low molecular weight. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates Volume II)
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14 pages, 4731 KiB  
Article
Formation and Inhibition of Calcium Carbonate Crystals under Cathodic Polarization Conditions
by Kun Sheng, Honghua Ge, Xin Huang, Yi Zhang, Yanfang Song, Fang Ge, Yuzeng Zhao and Xinjing Meng
Crystals 2020, 10(4), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10040275 - 6 Apr 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3485
Abstract
The formation of CaCO3 crystals on the cathode surface and the scale-inhibition performance of scale inhibitor 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTCA) on the cathode surface were studied by methods of solution analysis, gravimetric analysis, SEM, FTIR, and XRD techniques. They were then compared with [...] Read more.
The formation of CaCO3 crystals on the cathode surface and the scale-inhibition performance of scale inhibitor 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTCA) on the cathode surface were studied by methods of solution analysis, gravimetric analysis, SEM, FTIR, and XRD techniques. They were then compared with the results of the formation and suppression of CaCO3 crystals in aqueous solution. PBTCA had a good solution-scale-inhibition performance and good lattice-distortion effects on CaCO3 crystals in solution, which could change the CaCO3 from calcite to vaterite and aragonite crystals. The solution-scale-inhibition efficiency exceeded 97% when the PBTCA concentration reached 8 mg/L. Under cathodic polarization conditions, the surface-scale-inhibition efficiency of the cathode and solution-scale-inhibition efficiency near the cathode surface both exceed 97% at polarization potential of −1V. The addition of PBTCA significantly reduced the amount of CaCO3 crystals formed on the cathode surface and had good surface and solution-scale-inhibition effect. However, the lattice-distortion effect of PBTCA on CaCO3 crystals disappeared on the cathode surface, and the resulting CaCO3 contained only calcite crystals. The high-scale-inhibition effect of PBTCA under cathodic polarization was mainly due to the inhibition of the formation of calcium carbonate crystals by PBTCA, and not because of the lattice distortion of CaCO3 crystals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates Volume II)
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13 pages, 3812 KiB  
Article
Crystallization of CaCO3 in Aqueous Solutions with Extremely High Concentrations of NaCl
by Mengqi Qian, Yuwei Zuo, Zhihao Chen, Xiaoshuang Yin, Ying Liu, Wenzhong Yang and Yun Chen
Crystals 2019, 9(12), 647; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst9120647 - 6 Dec 2019
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5674
Abstract
The effect of NaCl at extremely high concentrations from 3.5 to 14 wt. % on the crystallization of CaCO3 was investigated in depth. The static test experiment verified that the Ca2+ retention efficiency (η) of NaCl on CaCO3 [...] Read more.
The effect of NaCl at extremely high concentrations from 3.5 to 14 wt. % on the crystallization of CaCO3 was investigated in depth. The static test experiment verified that the Ca2+ retention efficiency (η) of NaCl on CaCO3 scale increased from 31.06% (3.5 wt. %) to 41.56% (14 wt. %). Based on the calculation of supersaturation rations, the high concentration of NaCl could reduce the activity coefficients of [Ca2+] and [CO32−], thus reducing the actual concentration of CaCO3. The CaCO3 deposition rate constants (k) showed that NaCl slowed down the rate of CaCO3 crystallization. The X–ray diffraction (XRD) testing disclosed that the growth of (1 0 4) and (1 1 0) faces from calcite was impeded, while the formation of (1 1 1) face from aragonite was induced by the increasing concentration of NaCl. The inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES) results indicated that Na+ could be doped into CaCO3, leading to the one–dimensional crystal growth. It was further proved that NaCl heightens the efficiency of the typical phosphate inhibitors (2–phosphonobutane–1,2,4–tricarboxylic acid (PBTCA) and 1–hydroxyethane–1,1–diphosphonic acid (HEDP)) on prohibiting the scale of CaCO3. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates Volume II)
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