Effect of Alginate from Chilean Lessonia nigrescens and MWCNTs on CaCO3 crystallization by classical and non classical methods

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 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.