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Carbonates
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Carbonates

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2018) | Viewed by 64134

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Linda Pastero

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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
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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

The first round submission deadline: 30 November 2017

Dr. Linda Pastero
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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 (9 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 3898 KiB  
Article
Calcium Carbonate Polymorphs Growing in the Presence of Sericin: A New Composite Mimicking the Hierarchic Structure of Nacre
by Linda Pastero and Dino Aquilano
Crystals 2018, 8(7), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst8070263 - 26 Jun 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5681
Abstract
Bioinspired self-assembled composite materials are appealing both for their industrial applications and importance in natural sciences, and represent a stimulating topic in the area of materials science, biology, and medicine. The function of the organic matrix has been studied from the biological, chemical, [...] Read more.
Bioinspired self-assembled composite materials are appealing both for their industrial applications and importance in natural sciences, and represent a stimulating topic in the area of materials science, biology, and medicine. The function of the organic matrix has been studied from the biological, chemical, crystallographic, and engineering point of view. Little attention has been paid to the effect of one of the two main components of the organic matrix, the sericin fraction, on the growth morphology of calcium carbonate polymorphs. In the present work, we address this issue experimentally, emphasizing the morphological effects of sericin on calcite and aragonite crystals, and on the formation of a sericin-aragonite-calcite self-assembled composite with a hierarchic structure comparable to that of natural nacre. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates)
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8 pages, 2040 KiB  
Article
Experimental Value of the Specific Surface Energy of the Cleavage {10.4} Calcite Rhombohedron in the Presence of Its Saturated Aqueous Solution
by Emanuele Costa and Dino Aquilano
Crystals 2018, 8(6), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst8060238 - 30 May 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4332
Abstract
In this study, we describe a method to obtain experimental values of the surface energy of calcite. A zenithal imaging device was used to acquire pictures of droplets of CaCO3 saturated aqueous solution on the surface of a calcite crystal sample. Pictures [...] Read more.
In this study, we describe a method to obtain experimental values of the surface energy of calcite. A zenithal imaging device was used to acquire pictures of droplets of CaCO3 saturated aqueous solution on the surface of a calcite crystal sample. Pictures were used to measure the contact angle between the droplets and the {10.4} calcite surfaces. The method is discussed along with its geometrical ground, as well as the theoretical foundation of the contact angle calculation. A comparison is made with the literature data; a good agreement is found between our experimental values and those obtained from the more recent ab initio calculations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates)
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15 pages, 5949 KiB  
Article
Comparative Study on the Sand Bioconsolidation through Calcium Carbonate Precipitation by Sporosarcina pasteurii and Bacillus subtilis
by Chun-Mei Hsu, Yi-Hsun Huang, Vanita Roshan Nimje, Wen-Chien Lee, How-Ji Chen, Yi-Hao Kuo, Chung-Ho Huang, Chien-Cheng Chen and Chien-Yen Chen
Crystals 2018, 8(5), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst8050189 - 27 Apr 2018
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6716
Abstract
To investigate potential implications of microbial activity on sand bioconsolidation and subsurface environments, two ureolytic strains, Sporosarcina pasteurii and Bacillus subtilis were tested for the production of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Laboratory experiments with monoculture S. pasteurii (column 1) and coculture S. [...] Read more.
To investigate potential implications of microbial activity on sand bioconsolidation and subsurface environments, two ureolytic strains, Sporosarcina pasteurii and Bacillus subtilis were tested for the production of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Laboratory experiments with monoculture S. pasteurii (column 1) and coculture S. pasteurii-B. subtilis (column 2) were conducted to determine urea and calcium chloride reactivity and volumetric carbonate formation. Both columns were able to consolidate sand, whereas, column 1 induced greater CaCO3 precipitation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed two columns with different mineralogy with calcite, and vaterite formation. Column 1 showed rhombohedral and trigonal crystals morphology, whereas column 2 developed the prismatic calcite and the spherulite vaterite crystals might be due to the differences of the micro-environment caused by the urease expression of these bacterial species. These results indicate the possibility of using those crystals to cement loose sand whereas, highlighted the importance of combining these techniques to understand the geomicrobiology found in the subsurface environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates)
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22 pages, 23282 KiB  
Article
The Carbonate Platform Model and Reservoirs’ Origins of the Callovian-Oxfordian Stage in the Amu Darya Basin, Turkmenistan
by Wenli Xu, Huaguo Wen, Rongcai Zheng, Fengjie Li, Fei Huo, Mingcai Hou and Gang Zhou
Crystals 2018, 8(2), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst8020084 - 4 Feb 2018
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6866
Abstract
The Calloviane-Oxfordian carbonates in the northeastern Amu Darya Basin of southeastern Turkmenistan are composed of medium- to thick-bedded, mostly grainy limestones with various skeletal (bivalves, brachiopods, echinoderms, foraminifera, corals, and sponge) and non-skeletal grains (intraclasts, ooids and peloids). Two facies zones, six standard [...] Read more.
The Calloviane-Oxfordian carbonates in the northeastern Amu Darya Basin of southeastern Turkmenistan are composed of medium- to thick-bedded, mostly grainy limestones with various skeletal (bivalves, brachiopods, echinoderms, foraminifera, corals, and sponge) and non-skeletal grains (intraclasts, ooids and peloids). Two facies zones, six standard facies belts and some microfacies types were recognized, and sedimentary model “carbonate ramp-rimmed platform” was proposed and established that can be compared with the classical carbonate sedimentary models. In this model, favorable reservoirs not only developed in the intraplatform shoal of open platform, or reef and shoal on the platform margin, but also in the patch reefs, shoal and mound facies on the upper slope. The reservoir’s pore space is dominated by intergranular and intragranular pores and fissure-pore reservoirs exist with medium porosity and medium to low permeability. Sedimentary facies and diagenetic dissolution are the key controlling factors for the development of high-quality reservoirs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates)
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16 pages, 4485 KiB  
Article
Electrocrystallization of CaCO3 Crystals Obtained through Phosphorylated Chitin
by Nicole Butto, Gustavo Cabrera-Barjas and Andrónico Neira-Carrillo
Crystals 2018, 8(2), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst8020082 - 3 Feb 2018
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6196
Abstract
A phosphorylated chitin (Chi-P) derivative was synthesized and its chemical structure was verified with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric techniques (TGA). The influence of Chi-P used as a solid template through in vitro electrocrystallization (EC) supported on an indium zinc [...] Read more.
A phosphorylated chitin (Chi-P) derivative was synthesized and its chemical structure was verified with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric techniques (TGA). The influence of Chi-P used as a solid template through in vitro electrocrystallization (EC) supported on an indium zinc oxide (ITO) surface on the growth of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was studied. CaCO3 crystals through EC essays were also compared with crystals obtained with the gas diffusion (GD) method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), chronopotentiometry, Raman, and powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD) characterized all resultant inorganic particles. Our findings revealed that the EC method selectively controlled the coexistence of truncate calcite and the metastable phase of vaterite. The crystals’ morphology reflects the electrostatic interaction of phosphate moieties from Chi-P onto CaCO3 crystals through both EC and GD crystallization methods. We believe that the EC method represents a viable electrochemical approach for studying different inorganic minerals and could be useful as an in vitro classical crystallization method for the design of advanced inorganic materials with desirable shapes and properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates)
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15 pages, 9446 KiB  
Article
Effect of Alginate from Chilean Lessonia nigrescens and MWCNTs on CaCO3 Crystallization by Classical and Non-Classical Methods
by Marianela Sánchez, Patricio Vásquez-Quitral, Nicole Butto, Felipe Díaz-Soler, Mehrdad Yazdani-Pedram, Juan Francisco Silva and Andrónico Neira-Carrillo
Crystals 2018, 8(2), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst8020069 - 31 Jan 2018
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4216
Abstract
In our crystallization experiments, the influence of alginate from Chilean Lessonia nigrescens and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was tested through electrocrystallization (EC) and gas diffusion (GD) methods on the crystal growth of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and their possible stabilization of [...] Read more.
In our crystallization experiments, the influence of alginate from Chilean Lessonia nigrescens and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was tested through electrocrystallization (EC) and gas diffusion (GD) methods on the crystal growth of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and their possible stabilization of proto-structures in amorphous CaCO3 (ACC) state through pre-nucleation clusters (PNC) essays with automatic potentiometric titrations were performed. CaCO3 crystals obtained in the in vitro above-mentioned crystallization systems were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Our experimental findings showed that ALG and functionalized MWCNTs stabilized truncated and agglomerated vaterite-like particles through GD and EC methods. While, on the other hand, we obtained qualitative information about induction or inhibition of CaCO3 nucleation that was provided by potentiometric titrations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates)
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13 pages, 3105 KiB  
Article
CO2 Capture and Crystallization of Ammonia Bicarbonate in a Lab-Scale Scrubber
by Pao Chi Chen and Shun Chao Yu
Crystals 2018, 8(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst8010039 - 16 Jan 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 9333
Abstract
A lab-scale bubble-column scrubber is used to capture CO2 gas and produce ammonia bicarbonate (ABC) using aqueous ammonia as an absorbent under a constant pH and temperature. The CO2 concentration is adjusted by mixing N2 and CO2 in the [...] Read more.
A lab-scale bubble-column scrubber is used to capture CO2 gas and produce ammonia bicarbonate (ABC) using aqueous ammonia as an absorbent under a constant pH and temperature. The CO2 concentration is adjusted by mixing N2 and CO2 in the range of 15–60 vol % at 55 °C. The process variables are the pH of the solution, temperature, gas-flow rate and the concentration of gas. The effects of the process variables on the removal efficiency (E), absorption rate (RA) and overall mass-transfer coefficient (KGa) were explored. A multiple-tube mass balance model was used to determine RA and KGa, in which RA and KGa were in the range of 2.14 × 10−4–1.09 × 10−3 mol/(s·L) and 0.0136–0.5669 1/s, respectively. Results found that, RA showed an obvious increase with the increase in pH, inlet gas concentration and gas temperature, while KGa decreased with an increase in inlet gas concentration. Using linear regression, an empirical expression for KGa/E was obtained. On the other hand, ammonia bicarbonate crystals could be produced at a pH of 9.5 when the gas concentration was higher than 30% and γ (=Fg/FA, the gas-liquid molar flow rate ratio) ≥ 1.5. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates)
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4789 KiB  
Article
Hydrophobic Calcium Carbonate for Cement Surface
by Shashi B. Atla, Yi-Hsun Huang, James Yang, How-Ji Chen, Yi-Hao Kuo, Chun-Mei Hsu, Wen-Chien Lee, Chien-Cheng Chen, Duen-Wei Hsu and Chien-Yen Chen
Crystals 2017, 7(12), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst7120371 - 11 Dec 2017
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8247
Abstract
This report describes a novel way to generate a highly effective hydrophobic cement surface via a carbonation route using sodium stearate. Carbonation reaction was carried out at different temperatures to investigate the hydrophobicity and morphology of the calcium carbonate formed with this process. [...] Read more.
This report describes a novel way to generate a highly effective hydrophobic cement surface via a carbonation route using sodium stearate. Carbonation reaction was carried out at different temperatures to investigate the hydrophobicity and morphology of the calcium carbonate formed with this process. With increasing temperatures, the particles changed from irregular shapes to more uniform rod-like structures and then aggregated to form a plate-like formation. The contact angle against water was found to increase with increasing temperature; after 90 °C there was no further increase. The maximum contact angle of 129° was obtained at the temperature of 60 °C. It was also found that carbonation increased the micro hardness of the cement material. The micro hardness was found to be dependent on the morphology of the CaCO3 particles. The rod like structures which caused increased mineral filler produced a material with enhanced strength. The 13C cross polarization magic-angle spinning NMR spectra gave plausible explanation of the interaction of organic-inorganic moieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates)
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18918 KiB  
Article
Crystallization of Calcium Carbonate in Alginate and Xanthan Hydrogels
by Cleo Kosanović, Simona Fermani, Giuseppe Falini and Damir Kralj
Crystals 2017, 7(12), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst7120355 - 30 Nov 2017
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 11445
Abstract
Calcium carbonate polymorphs were crystallized in alginate and xanthan hydrogels in which a degree of entanglement was altered by the polysaccharide concentration. Both hydrogels contain functional groups (COOH and OH) attached at diverse proportions on saccharide units. In all systems, the precipitation process [...] Read more.
Calcium carbonate polymorphs were crystallized in alginate and xanthan hydrogels in which a degree of entanglement was altered by the polysaccharide concentration. Both hydrogels contain functional groups (COOH and OH) attached at diverse proportions on saccharide units. In all systems, the precipitation process was initiated simultaneously with gelation, by the fast mixing of the calcium and carbonate solutions, which contain the polysaccharide molecules at respective concentrations. The initial supersaturation was adjusted to be relatively high in order to ensure the conditions suitable for nucleation of all CaCO3 polymorphs and amorphous phase(s). In the model systems (no polysaccharide), a mixture of calcite, vaterite and amorphous calcium carbonate initially precipitated, but after short time only calcite remained. In the presence of xanthan hydrogels, precipitation of either, calcite single crystals, porous polyhedral aggregates, or calcite/vaterite mixtures were observed after five days of ageing, because of different degrees of gel entanglement. At the highest xanthan concentrations applied, the vaterite content was significantly higher. In the alginate hydrogels, calcite microcrystalline aggregates, rosette-like and/or stuck-like monocrystals and vaterite/calcite mixtures precipitated as well. Time resolved crystallization experiments performed in alginate hydrogels indicated the initial formation of a mixture of calcite, vaterite and amorphous calcium carbonate, which transformed to calcite after 24 h of ageing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonates)
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