Dihydrophilic block copolymers with ionic and nonionic blocks. I. Poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polyglycidol with OP(O)(OH)2, COOH,or SO3H functions: Synthesis and influence for CaCO3 crystallization

Dihydrophilic block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polyglycidol were prepared and polyglycidol blocks converted into ionic blocks containing  OP(O)(OH)₂,  COOH, or  SO₃H groups. Although phosphorylation of polyhydroxy compounds with POCl₃ usually leads to insoluble products, phosphorylation of poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polyglycidol using a POCl₃/ OH ratio equal to 1/1 gave soluble products, predominantly monoester of phosphoric acid (after hydrolysis) (provided that the reaction was conducted in triethyl phosphate as solvent). All copolymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and/or ³¹P NMR spectra for confirming their structure. The degree of substitution was determined from quantitative ¹³C NMR spectroscopy (inverted‐gate decoupling‐acquisition mode). Preliminary results indicate that from these three groups of block copolymers the phosphoric acid esters are the most effective ones at least in controlling the growth of CaCO₃ crystals in aqueous solution. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 955–963, 2001     

Influence of surfactants on the morphologies of CaCO3 by carbonation route with compressed CO2

Three surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and polyoxyethylene-80-sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), were used to control the growth of CaCO₃ crystals by carbonation route using Ca(OH)₂ and compressed CO₂. The obtained CaCO₃ particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The effects of surfactants on the morphology of the particles were studied. It was demonstrated that Tween 80 and SDS have obvious effect on the morphology of CaCO₃ particles, while CTAB does not affect morphology considerably. The possible mechanism has been discussed on the basis of the binding of the surfactants to the certain face of the crystals.     

Facile synthesis of calcium carbonate with an absolutely pure crystal form using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dodecyl sulfate as the modifier

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) nanocrystals with controllable polymorph and morphology have been successfully synthesized with the aid of an effective control agent, a halogen-free, low-cost ionic liquid surfactant, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dodecylsulfate ([C₄mim][C₁₂SO₄]) in a supersaturated aqueous solution. For the first time, facile preparation of pure lens-like vaterite, sheet-like calcite, and peanut-like aragonite was all achieved in the [C₄mim][C₁₂SO₄] aqueous solution through changing the concentration, temperature, and initial pH value and adding magnesium ions. Washed by water and ethanol, all the aggregates were free of [C₄mim][C₁₂SO₄] and can be stable at least 1 month in air. The crystal form of the aggregates changed from pure calcite to pure vaterite at room temperature only through increasing [C₄mim][C₁₂SO₄] concentration. Formation of the ordered CaCO₃ structures is mainly ascribed to the aggregation of the primary nanoparticles whose formation mechanism is related to the change of supersaturation. This study can provide a facile and environment-friendly method to fabricate CaCO₃ crystal aggregates with various morphologies and polymorphs and can be used for large-scale industrial production and biomimetic synthesis.     

Preparation of superhydrophobic nanocalcite crystals using Box–Behnken design

Superhydrophobic nanocalcite crystals were prepared via an adjusted aqueous reaction of CaO, CO₂ gas and sodium oleate. Box–Behnken design was used to optimize the preparation parameters such as CaO concentration, CO₂ gas flow rate and surfactant concentration. The results revealed that the produced CaCO₃ is indexed to the calcite phase. The crystallite size, particle size, morphology, hydrophobicity and surface charge of CaCO₃ are significantly affected by changing the preparation parameters. The addition of sodium oleate helps in reducing the crystallite size from 101 nm to 48 nm, reducing the particle size from 1.5 μm length scalenohedral particles to 40 nm rhombohedral particles and modifying the properties of pure CaCO₃ from highly hydrophilic to superhydrophobic.     

Characterization of a Novel CaCO3-Forming Alkali-Tolerant Rhodococcus erythreus S26 as a Filling Agent for Repairing Concrete Cracks

Biomineralization, a well-known natural phenomenon associated with various microbial species, is being studied to protect and strengthen building materials such as concrete. We characterized Rhodococcus erythreus S26, a novel urease-producing bacterium exhibiting CaCO₃-forming activity, and investigated its ability in repairing concrete cracks for the development of environment-friendly sealants. Strain S26 grown in solid medium formed spherical and polygonal CaCO₃ crystals. The S26 cells grown in a urea-containing liquid medium caused culture fluid alkalinization and increased CaCO₃ levels, indicating that ureolysis was responsible for CaCO₃ formation. Urease activity and CaCO₃ formation increased with incubation time, reaching a maximum of 2054 U/min/mL and 3.83 g/L, respectively, at day four. The maximum CaCO₃ formation was achieved when calcium lactate was used as the calcium source, followed by calcium gluconate. Although cell growth was observed after the induction period at pH 10.5, strain S26 could grow at a wide range of pH 4–10.5, showing its high alkali tolerance. FESEM showed rhombohedral crystals of 20–60 µm in size. EDX analysis indicated the presence of calcium, carbon, and oxygen in the crystals. XRD confirmed these crystals as CaCO₃ containing calcite and vaterite. Furthermore, R. erythreus S26 successfully repaired the artificially induced large cracks of 0.4–0.6 mm width.     

聚电解质膜PDAC/PSS诱导CaCO3结晶的研究

以模拟软体动物珍珠层的周期性基质控制形成过程制备仿生层状复合材料. 将聚苯乙烯磺酸钠(PSS)与聚二烯二甲基氯化铵(PDAC)用逐层浸渍的方法使其组装成多层膜, 用于诱导过饱和溶液中CaCO₃的结晶, 详细研究了膜紫外吸收随组装层数增加的线性变化. 扫描电镜和X射线衍射表征了晶体的形貌和结构. (PDAC/PSS)₁₅PDAC膜诱导获得的CaCO₃晶体为六面体结构, 晶体尺寸为30～40 μm; (PDAC/PSS)₁₅膜诱导CaCO₃结晶, 可以在膜表面获得形貌与珍珠层非常相似的CaCO₃晶体, 结晶10 h获得的晶片结构呈规则的六边形, 片尺寸约为10～20 μm. X射线衍射结果表明两种晶体的晶格结构与天然珍珠层差异明显, 说明静电作用为晶体形貌的主控因素之一, 但不是晶格结构的决定因素. 复合材料断面电镜照片表明其为层状结构.     

Facile synthesis of calcium carbonate/polyacrylic acid hydrogels for pH-responsive delivery of cytarabine

Cytarabine (Cyt) encapsulated calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) nanospheres were facilely synthesized through a simple co-precipitation method, and the Cyt encapsulated CaCO₃ nanospheres (CaCO₃/Cyt) were modified by polyacrylic acid (PAA) hydrogels through in situ polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) monomer on the surface of the CaCO₃/Cyt. Successful preparation of the Cyt loaded CaCO₃/PAA hydrogels were confirmed by the characterization of SEM, TEM and FT-IR. Premature release of Cyt in acidic medium (pH = 1.2) could be effectively circumvented by the introduction of the PAA hydrogels. More importantly, pH-responsive delivery of Cyt from the as-prepared CaCO₃/PAA hydrogels could be achieved due to the pH-sensitivity of the PAA. Although the highest swelling ratio of PAA was obtained at pH 7.3 (27.7), the highest cumulative release of Cyt from the carrier was achieved at pH 5.3 (86.75%), which might be attributed to the high stability of CaCO₃ at pH 7.3. That is to say, the highest cumulative release of Cyt at pH 5.3 was a compromise by considering the relatively high swelling ratio of PAA and the relatively low stability of CaCO₃.     

Trithallium hydrogen bis(sulfate), Tl3H(SO4)2, in the super‐ionic phase by X‐ray powder diffraction

The structure of trithallium hydrogen bis­(sulfate), Tl₃H(SO₄)₂, in the super‐ionic phase has been analyzed by Rietveld analysis of the X‐ray powder diffraction pattern. Atomic parameters based on the isotypic Rb₃H(SeO₄)₂ crystal in space group Rm in the super‐ionic phase were used as the starting model, because it has been shown from the comparison of thermal and electric properties in Tl₃H(SO₄)₂ and M₃H(SO₄)₂ type crystals (M = Rb, Cs or NH₄) that the room‐temperature Tl₃H(SO₄)₂ phase is isostructural with the high‐temperature Rm‐symmetry M₃H(SO₄)₂ crystals. The structure was determined in the trigonal space group Rm and the Rietveld refinement shows that an hydrogen‐bond O—­H?O separation is slightly shortened compared with O—H?O separations in isotypic M₃H(SeO₄)₂ crystals. In addition, it was found that the distortion of the SO₄ tetrahedra in Tl₃H(SO₄)₂ is less than that in isotypic crystals.     

Functionalization of polymeric surfaces by simple photoactivation of C?H bonds

A universal photoassisted pathway to functionalize polymeric surfaces is presented by transferring the inert surface sp³ C? H bonds into reactive groups, such as ? SO₃H, ? NH₂, ? SH, and ? COOH. The proposed method uses acetone as photoinitiator and different phenols with a para substituent XR as the reactants. Acetone excited by UV irradiation acts as a pair of scissors cutting both the surface C? H bonds of the polymer substrate and the O? H bonds of phenol, leading to the formation of carbon‐centered surface chain free radicals and oxygen‐centered phenoxy free radicals. By coupling of these two radicals, a variety of functional X groups with an R spacer from XR species of different phenol reactants were readily bonded to the polymeric surfaces, where phenol reactants included 4‐hydroxylbenzene sulfonic acid for ? SO₃H, p‐aminophenol and tyramine for ? NH₂, 4‐hydroxythiophenol for ? SH, and tyrosine for ? COOH. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and characterization of sulfonated polymethylsiloxane polymer as template for crystal growth of CaCO3

The objective of this work was to synthesize a sulfonated polymethylsiloxane (S-PMS) by hydrosilylation and sulfonation reactions and to investigate their effect on the growth of CaCO₃ crystals using a gas diffusion method as a function of concentration, pH, and time. The result of IR and NMR shows good agreement with all proposed structures. Scanning electron microscopy images of CaCO₃ showed small well-defined calcite-forming short piles (ca 5 μm) and elongated calcite (ca 20 μm) crystals. The morphology of the resultant CaCO₃ crystals reflects the electrostatic interaction of sulfonate moieties and Ca²⁺ modulated by S-PMS adsorbed onto the CaCO₃ surface. X-ray diffraction confirmed the crystalline calcite polymorph. Energy dispersive spectroscopy of CaCO₃ crystals determined the presence of Si atoms from S-PMS. The use of PMS chemistry as an organic additive for the production of CaCO₃ particles is a viable approach for studying the biomineralization and could be useful for the design of novel materials with desirable shape and properties.     

Quantum chemistry of ferroelectric solids: Electronic structures and peculiar behavior of zero‐dimensional K3H(SO4)2‐like materials

The main problems of quantum chemistry of H‐bonded ferroelectrics are treated using the zero‐dimensional K₃H(SO₄)₂‐like crystals as suitable examples. Various quantum chemical approaches and computational procedures are applied to evaluate the Ising model coupling parameters that determine different thermodynamic and dielectric properties of these materials. The calculated Ising parameters are employed to describe the peculiarities of ferroelectric behavior of the K₃H(SO₄)₂ family crystals in the framework of mean field approximation. The problems related to the H‐bond proton (deuteron) tunneling are also discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002     

碳酸岩矿化菌诱导碳酸钙晶体形成机理研究

选用碳酸盐矿化菌(芽孢杆菌系), 分别研究了不同浓度细菌液、细菌体及其分泌物对碳酸钙晶体形成的影响. 研究表明, 细菌液浓度越高, 控制碳酸钙晶体形貌作用越显著; 细菌体为碳酸钙结晶提供异相成核点而对形貌并没有实质影响; 细菌分泌物可诱导出球形、纺锤形等多种形态亚稳态球霰石; 在微生物环境的长期作用下可形成有机-无机复合碳酸钙硬质膜. 通过对电导率测定结果和碳酸钙红外图谱分析得出, 生物有机质分子链的极性基团(COOH, C＝O等)与Ca^2＋产生静电、配位等一系列作用, 调控晶体的生长. 本研究对于微生物诱导碳酸钙的工程性应用, 如混凝土微裂缝修复、古建筑表面防护处理、微纳米碳酸钙颗粒制备等具有一定指导意义.     

Protonation of amino and hydroxypyrimidines. NMR-spectra and structures of mono and dications

Proton-NMR. spectra of amino- and hydroxypyrimidines including biologically important bases have been measured in four solvents: CF₃COOH, CF₃COOH? SO₂, FSO₃H and FSO₃H? SbF₅–SO₂ at 27° and ?55°C. In CF₃COOH mono-cations are formed, whereas in FSO₃H and FSO₃H? SbF₅–SO₂ double protonation occurs. In each case the structures of the protonated species are derived from the chemical shifts of CH, NH and OH protons and proton-proton spin coupling constants. A combination of the measurements described leads to a complete assignment of all proton resonances of the protonated pyrimidines. This approach is also recommended for the structural determination of heterocyclic compounds.     

Bis(4‐methylphenylsulfonyl)amino 4‐methylbenzenesulfonate: a new member of the (RSO2)ON(SO2R)2 family

The title compound, C₂₁H₂₁NO₇S₃, consists of an SO₂ON(SO₂)₂ central fragment and three terminal 4‐methylphenyl groups each attached at a sulfonyl S atom. The most obvious characteristic is the presence of two nearly face‐to‐face benzene rings, with their centroids separated by a rather short distance [3.7808 (18) Å], but with a rather slanted relative orientation [dihedral angle = 20.63 (13)°] so as to preclude a strong intramolecular π–π interaction. The third benzene ring is nearly perpendicular to the other two [dihedral angles = 71.62 (14) and 70.4 (13)°]. The packing of the structure is directed by two C—H...O hydrogen bonds involving aromatic H atoms (methyl H atoms are strictly non‐interacting), which define chains running in the [100] direction. These one‐dimensional chains evolve parallel to each other and exhibit no significant lateral interactions.     

Fabrication of Thermo‐Responsive Hybrid Hydrogels by In‐Situ Mineralization and Self‐Assembly of Microgel Particles

Summary: An in‐situ mineralization process in the presence of thermo‐responsive microgels leads to the formation of well‐defined hybrid materials. Experimental data suggest that control of the mineralization process in the presence of the microgels offers the possibility to obtain sub‐micrometer‐sized hybrid particles or macroscopic hybrid hydrogels. The rapid formation of CaCO₃ crystals in the microgel structure favors the preparation of the hybrid particles wherein inorganic crystals cover the shell layer of the microgel. The slow formation of CaCO₃ crystals leads to the simultaneous self‐assembly of the microgel particles on the bottom of the reaction vessel, and the formation of a physical network. It has been demonstrated that hybrid hydrogel materials with different calcium carbonate contents and temperature‐dependent swelling‐deswelling properties can be prepared.

Formation of a hybrid hydrogel by the vapor diffusion method.     

Interaction of Plasma Proteins with Tri‐quaternary Ammonium Salt Cationic Surfactant Studied by QCM‐D

A tri‐quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactant was synthesized. Its structure was confirmed by using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. Three model surfaces, including Au‐CH₃, Au‐OH and Au‐COOH, were fabricated. Adsorptions of surfactant on the three model surfaces and subsequent plasma proteins adsorption were investigated by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM‐D). The mass of surfactant on the Au‐COOH surface was the largest, followed by that on the Au‐CH₃ surface, and that on the Au‐OH surface. These results suggested that the main driving force of surfactant immobilization was electrostatic interaction followed by hydrophobic interaction. Based on the results obtained, we concluded that the protein mass adsorbed on Au‐CH₃‐ S , Au‐OH‐ S , and Au‐COOH‐ S surfaces depended on the protein size and orientation. The mass and thickness of S on the Au‐COOH surface is the largest and the protein adsorption capacity of Au‐COOH‐ S surface is inferior to that of Au‐CH₃‐ S . The Au‐COOH‐ S surface could inhibit lysozyme adsorption, maintain the adsorption balance of bovine serum albumin, and induce fibrinogen‐binding protein adsorption.     

Controlled synthesis of calcium carbonate in a mixed aqueous solution of PSMA and CTAB

A mixed system of poly (styrene-alt-maleic acid) (PSMA) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as a very effective crystal growth modifier to direct the controlled synthesis of CaCO₃ crystals with various morphologies and polymorphs. The as-prepared products were characterized with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It was found that the concentrations and relative ratios of PSMA and CTAB in the mixed aqueous solution were turned out to be important parameters for the morphology and polymorph of CaCO₃ crystals. Various morphologies of CaCO₃ crystals, such as hollow microsphere, peanut and so on, were produced depending on the concentrations and relative ratios of PSMA and CTAB. Moreover, the formation mechanisms of CaCO₃ crystals with different morphologies were discussed.     

Alginate hydrogel-mediated crystallization of calcium carbonate

We documented a specific method for combining calcium ions and alginate molecules slowly and continuously in the mineralization system for the purpose of understanding the mediating function of alginate on the crystallization of calcium carbonate. The alginate was involved in the nucleation and the growth process of CaCO₃. The crystal size, morphology and roughness of crystal surface were significantly influenced by the type of the alginate, which could be accounted for by the length of the G blocks in alginate. A combination of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis showed that there were the chemical interactions between the alginate and the mineral phase. This strategic approach revealed the biologically controlled CaCO₃ mineralization within calcium alginate hydrogels via the selective nucleation and the confined crystallization of CaCO₃. The results presented here could contribute to the understanding of the mineralization process in hydrogel systems.     

Highly Efficient Copper(II) Ion Sorbents Obtained by Calcium Carbonate Mineralization on Functionalized Cross‐Linked Copolymers

A new type of Cu^II ion sorbents is presented. These are obtained by CaCO₃ mineralization from supersaturated solutions on gel‐like cross‐linked polymeric beads as insoluble templates. A divinylbenzene–ethylacrylate–acrylonitrile cross‐linked copolymer functionalized with weakly acidic, basic, or amphoteric functional groups has been used, as well as different initial inorganic concentrations and addition procedures for CaCO₃ crystal growth. The morphology of the new composites was investigated by SEM and compared to that of the unmodified beads, and the polymorph content was established by X‐ray diffraction. The beads, before and after CaCO₃ mineralization, were tested as sorbents for Cu^II ions. The newly formed patterns on the bead surface after Cu^II sorption were observed by SEM, and the elemental distribution on the composites and the chemical structure of crystals after interaction with Cu^II were investigated by EDAX elemental mapping and by FTIR‐ATR spectroscopy, respectively. The sorption capacity increased significantly after CaCO₃ crystals growth on the weak anionic bead surface (up to 1041.5 mg Cu^II/g sample) compared to that of unmodified beads (491.5 mg Cu^II/g sample).     

Effect of the self-assembly of collagen on crystallisation of calcium carbonate in aqueous solution

In order to investigate how the self-assembly of organic matrix influences crystallisation and growth of inorganic minerals, we selected collagen as the matrix and conducted three experiments of crystallisation of CaCO₃ in different reaction systems: H₂O system, as-assembled collagen fibrils system and self-assembling of collagen system. It is found that (i) the self-assembly process of organic matrix had a remarkable effect on the morphology of inorganic minerals: CaCO₃ crystals formed in the as-assembled collagen fibrils system were global clusters and those formed in the self-assembling of collagen system appeared as interlaced networks and (ii) the organic matrix decided the polymorph of crystals: CaCO₃ crystals were calcite in the H₂O system and appeared vaterite in the collagen system. From this study, we can conclude that the self-assembly of collagen fibrils greatly affect the crystallisation and growth of CaCO₃. Such results are significant in understanding the mechanism of biomineralisation in calcified tissues in general, and useful in the synthesis of biominerals.

(a)?CaCO₃ formed in the as-assembled collagen fibrils system. (b)?CaCO₃ formed in the self-assembling of collagen monomer system.The TEM images of samples obtained in the as-assembled collagen fibrils and self-assembling of collagen monomer system, were observed, respectively. The result shows that crystals CaCO₃ formed in the as-assembled collagen fibrils system were global clusters; crystals CaCO₃ formed in the self-assembling of collagen monomer system appeared interlaced networks.