The calcite/water interface I. Surface charge in indifferent electrolyte media and the influence of low-molecular-weight polyelectrolyte

Suspensions of calcium carbonate in water with an indifferent background electrolyte (NaCl) have been investigated using several techniques. Particular attention was paid to the dissolution of calcite at equilibrium and as a function of sodium polyacrylate (NaPA) concentration. Also of interest was how this affects the magnitude of the surface charge and the zeta potential. The development of the interfacial charge is discussed with respect to the dissolved species and with regard to the kinetics of dissolution. The partial pressure of CO(2) in solution is believed to play a major role in determining the sign of the charge at equilibrium. In addition to effectively stabilizing calcite suspensions, NaPA was also found to act as a chelating agent at the calcite surface, enhancing the dissolution. The order of addition of NaPA to the suspensions was found to be important.     

Characterization of silicate monomer with sodium,calcium and strontium but not with lithium and magnesium ions by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS) was applied to the direct detection of silica species dissolved in LiCl, NaCl, MgCl(2), CaCl(2) and SrCl(2) solutions in order to investigate its dissolution process in solution. Several species of dissolved silicate complexes in the solution were directly detected by FABMS. The peak intensities of [SiO(2)(OH)(2)Na](-), [SiO(3)(OH)Ca](-) and [SiO(3)(OH)Sr](-) increased with increasing concentrations of NaCl, CaCl(2) and SrCl(2), whereas the peak intensities of [SiO(2)(OH)(2)Li](-) and [SiO(3)(OH)Mg](-) did not increase with increasing concentrations of LiCl and MgCl(2). These results indicte that silicate and cation bind in the solution not after but before ionization. The isotope pattern of Sr(2+) confirmed the existence of the silicate-Sr complex not only with increase of the concentration of silica but also the mass numbers of Sr. The silicate complexes formed with Na(+), Ca(2+) and Sr(2+) showed high stability in chloride solution. This is in good accordance with the fact that Na(+), Ca(2+) and Sr(2+) accelerate the dissolution of silica to form complexes during solution equilibrium. Considering that the stability constant was examined and reported in other papers, this new findings that Mg(2+) does not form a complex with silicic acid (Si(OH)(4)) is very important.     

Uptake of CO2, SO2, HNO3 and HCl on calcite (CaCO3) at 300 K: mechanism and the role of adsorbed water

All experimental observations of the uptake of the four title compounds on calcite are consistent with the presence of a reactive bifunctional surface intermediate Ca(OH)(HCO3) that has been proposed in the literature. The uptake of CO2 and SO2 occurs on specific adsorption sites of crystalline CaCO3(s) rather than by dissolution in adsorbed water, H2O(ads). SO2 primarily interacts with the bicarbonate moiety whereas CO2, HNO3 and HCl all react first with the hydroxyl group of the surface intermediate. Subsequently, the latter two react with the bicarbonate group to presumably form Ca(NO3)2 and CaCl2.2H2O. The effective equilibrium constant of the interaction of CO2 with calcite in the presence of H2O(ads) is kappa = deltaCO2/(H2O(ads)[CO2]) = 1.62 x 10(3) bar(-1), where CO2 is the quantity of CO2 adsorbed on CaCO3. The reaction mechanism involves a weakly bound precursor species that is reversibly adsorbed and undergoes rate-controlling concurrent reactions with both functionalities of the surface intermediate. The initial uptake coefficients gamma0 on calcite powder depend on the abundance of H2O(ads) under the present experimental conditions and are on the order of 10(-4) for CO2 and 0.1 for SO2, HNO3 and HCl, with gamma(ss) being significantly smaller than gamma0 for HNO3 and HCl, thus indicating partial saturation of the uptake. At 33% relative humidity and 300 K there are 3.5 layers of H2O adsorbed on calcite that reduce to a fraction of a monolayer of weakly and strongly bound water upon pumping and/or heating.     

Buffering dissociation/formation reaction of biogenic calcium carbonate

The oscillating stability of coral reef seawater pH has been maintained at around physiological pH values over the past 300 years (Pelejero et al., 2005). The stability mechanism of its pH has been interpreted in terms of the buffering dissolution/formation reaction of CaCO(3) as well as the proton consumption/generation reaction in CaCO(3)-saturated water. Here the pH-dependent solubility product [HCO(3)(-)][Ca(2+)] has been derived on the basis of the actual pH-dependent reactions for the atmospheric CO(2)/CO(2 (aq.))/HCO(3)(-)/CO(3)(2-)/Ca(2+)/CaCO(3) system. Overbasic pH peaks appeared between pH approximately 8 and approximately 9.5 during sodium hydroxide titration, as a result of simultaneous CaCO(3) formation and proton generation. The spontaneous and prompt water pH recovery from the acidic to the physiological range has been confirmed by the observation of acid/base time evolution, because of simultaneous CaCO(3) dissolution and proton consumption. The dissolution/formation of CaCO(3) in water at pH 7.5-9 does not take place without a proton consumption/generation reaction, or a buffering chemical reaction of HCO(3)(-)+Ca(2+)right arrow over left arrowCaCO(3)+H(+). SEM images of the CaCO(3) fragments showed that the acid water ate away at the CaCO(3) formed at physiological pH values. Natural coral reefs can thus recover the physiological pH levels of seawater from the acidic range through partial dissolution of their own skeletons.     

Effect of K(+) on the Stoichiometry of Carbonated Hydroxyapatite Obtained by the Hydrolysis of Monetite

This study investigates the stoichiometry and the thermal stability of K(+)- and CO(3)(2)(-)-containing apatites (KCAp's) obtained by the hydrolysis of monetite. The analysis results of the samples after drying reveal that the KCAp's start to lose carbonate at temperatures V(Ca) + CO(3)(2)(-) + V(OH)] and [Ca(2+) + PO(4)(3)(-) <--> K(+) + CO(3)(2)(-)], where V(X) stands for a vacancy in the X-sublattice. Moreover, a small part of the CO(3)(2)(-) ions are presumably incorporated according to [Ca(2+) + 2PO(4)(3)(-) <--> V(Ca) + 2CO(3)(2)(-)]. A comparison of the contributions of these fundamental mechanisms with the results for precipitated Na(+)- and CO(3)(2)(-)-containing apatites shows that no intrinsic coupling whatsoever exists between these mechanisms.     

Selective extraction of strontium with supercritical fluid carbon dioxide

Strontium (Sr(2+)) can be selectively extracted from aqueous solutions into supercritical fluid CO(2) at 60 °C and 100 atm with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DC18C6) using CF(3)(CF(2))(6)CO(2) (-) (PFOA(-)) or CF(3)(CF(2))(6)CF(2)SO(3) (-) (PFOSA(-)) as a counter anion; at a mole ratio of Sr(2+) : DC18C6 : PFOA(-) = 1:10:50, the extraction of Sr (5.6 × 10(-5) M) from water at pH 3 is near quantitative whereas Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) at equal concentration are only extracted to a level of 7 and 1%, respectively; PFOSA(-) is an effective counter anion for selective extraction of Sr(2+) from 1.3 M HNO(3) with DC18C6 in supercritical CO(2).     

Multi-competitive interaction of As(III) and As(V) oxyanions with Ca(2+), Mg(2+), PO(3-)(4), and CO(2-)(3) ions on goethite

Complex systems, simulating natural conditions like in groundwater, have rarely been studied, since measuring and in particular, modeling of such systems is very challenging. In this paper, the adsorption of the oxyanions of As(III) and As(V) on goethite has been studied in presence of various inorganic macro-elements (Mg(2+), Ca(2+), PO(3-)(4), CO(2-)(3)). We have used 'single-,' 'dual-,' and 'triple-ion' systems. The presence of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) has no significant effect on As(III) oxyanion (arsenite) adsorption in the pH range relevant for natural groundwater (pH 5-9). In contrast, both Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) promote the adsorption of PO(3-)(4). A similar (electrostatic) effect is expected for the Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) interaction with As(V) oxyanions (arsenate). Phosphate is a major competitor for arsenate as well as arsenite. Although carbonate may act as competitor for both types of As oxyanions, the presence of significant concentrations of phosphate makes the interaction of (bi)carbonate insignificant. The data have been modeled with the charge distribution (CD) model in combination with the extended Stern model option. In the modeling, independently calculated CD values were used for the oxyanions. The CD values for these complexes have been obtained from a bond valence interpretation of MO/DFT (molecular orbital/density functional theory) optimized geometries. The affinity constants (logK) have been found by calibrating the model on data from 'single-ion' systems. The parameters are used to predict the ion adsorption behavior in the multi-component systems. The thus calibrated model is able to predict successfully the ion concentrations in the mixed 2- and 3-component systems as a function of pH and loading. From a practical perspective, data as well as calculations show the dominance of phosphate in regulating the As concentrations. Arsenite (As(OH)(3)) is often less strongly bound than arsenate (AsO(3-)(4)) but arsenite responses less strongly to changes in the phosphate concentration compared to arsenate, i.e., deltalogc(As(III))/deltalogc(PO(4)) approximately 0.4 and deltalogc(As(V))/deltalogc(PO(4)) approximately 0.9 at pH 7. Therefore, the response of As in a sediment on a change in redox conditions will be variable and will depend on the phosphate concentration level.     

Azocalix[4]arene Strapped Calix[4]pyrrole: A Confirmable Fluoride Sensor

A new chromogenic fluoride sensor based on 1,3-di-p-nitrophenylazocalix[4]arene-calix[4]pyrrole (1) was designed and synthesized. The color of the solution of probe 1 changed upon the addition of any F(-), CH(3)CO(2)(-), PhCO(2)(-), and H(2)PO(4)(-) ions. However, from these ions the highly specific sensing of F(-) is achieved by the addition of Ca(2+) which leads to a color change from light sky blue (of 1·F(-)) back to the original light orange color of 1.     

Designed iron carbonyls as carbon monoxide (CO) releasing molecules: rapid CO release and delivery to myoglobin in aqueous buffer, and vasorelaxation of mouse aorta

The physiological roles of CO in neurotransmission, vasorelaxation, and cytoprotective activities have raised interest in the design and syntheses of CO-releasing materials (CORMs) that could be employed to modulate such biological pathways. Three iron-based CORMs, namely, [(PaPy(3))Fe(CO)](ClO(4)) (1), [(SBPy(3))Fe(CO)](BF(4))(2) (2), and [(Tpmen)Fe(CO)](ClO(4))(2) (3), derived from designed polypyridyl ligands have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. In these three Fe(II) carbonyls, the CO is trans to a carboxamido-N (in 1), an imine-N (in 2), and a tertiary amine-N (in 3), respectively. This structural feature has been correlated to the strength of the Fe-CO bond. The CO-releasing properties of all three carbonyls have been studied in various solvents under different experimental conditions. Rapid release of CO is observed with 2 and 3 upon dissolution in both aqueous and nonaqueous media in the presence and absence of dioxygen. With 1, CO release is observed only under aerobic conditions, and the final product is an oxo-bridged diiron species while with 2 and 3, the solvent bound [(L)Fe(CO)](2+) (where L = SBPy(3) or Tpmen) results upon loss of CO under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The apparent rates of CO loss by these CORMs are comparable to other CORMs such as [Ru(glycine)(CO)(3)Cl] reported recently. Facile delivery of CO to reduced myoglobin has been observed with both 2 and 3. In tissue bath experiments, 2 and 3 exhibit rapid vasorelaxation of mouse aorta muscle rings. Although the relaxation effect is not inhibited by the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ, significant inhibition is observed with the BK(Ca) channel blocker iberiotoxin.     

Surface-Mediated Organometallic Synthesis: High-Yield Preparations of Neutral and Anionic Osmium Carbonyl Clusters by Controlled Reduction of Silica-Supported [Os(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) and OsCl(3) in the Presence of Na(2)CO(3) or K(2)CO(3)

[Os(3)(CO)(12)], [H(4)Os(4)(CO)(12)], [H(2)Os(4)(CO)(12)](2)(-), [Os(5)C(CO)(14)](2)(-), and [Os(10)C(CO)(24)](2)(-) have been synthesized selectively and in high yields by reductive carbonylation or hydrogenation of OsCl(3) or alpha-[Os(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) supported on silica in the presence of alkali carbonates. The selectivity of the reaction is controlled by the choice of (i) the nature and quantity of the alkali carbonate (Na(2)CO(3) or K(2)CO(3)) added to silica, (ii) temperature, (iii) reaction time, and (iv) the gas-phase composition (CO, CO + H(2), or H(2)). These surface-mediated syntheses are often more selective and more efficient and usually require less drastic conditions than the best known syntheses in solution, confirming the potential use of the silica surface as a new reaction medium to prepare both neutral and anionic metal carbonyl clusters.     

A kinetic study of the reactions of Ca+ ions with O3, O2, N2, CO2 and H2O

The reactions between Ca(+)(4(2)S(1/2)) and O(3), O(2), N(2), CO(2) and H(2)O were studied using two techniques: the pulsed laser photo-dissociation at 193 nm of an organo-calcium vapour, followed by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of Ca(+) at 393.37 nm (Ca(+)(4(2)P(3/2)-4(2)S(1/2))); and the pulsed laser ablation at 532 nm of a calcite target in a fast flow tube, followed by mass spectrometric detection of Ca(+). The rate coefficient for the reaction with O(3) is essentially independent of temperature, k(189-312 K) = (3.9 +/- 1.2) x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), and is about 35% of the Langevin capture frequency. One reason for this is that there is a lack of correlation between the reactant and product potential energy surfaces for near coplanar collisions. The recombination reactions of Ca(+) with O(2), CO(2) and H(2)O were found to be in the fall-off region over the experimental pressure range (1-80 Torr). The data were fitted by RRKM theory combined with quantum calculations on CaO(2)(+), Ca(+).CO(2) and Ca(+).H(2)O, yielding the following results with He as third body when extrapolated from 10(-3)-10(3) Torr and a temperature range of 100-1500 K. For Ca(+) + O(2): log(10)(k(rec,0)/cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1)) = -26.16 - 1.113log(10)T- 0.056log(10)(2)T, k(rec,infinity) = 1.4 x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), F(c) = 0.56. For Ca(+) + CO(2): log(10)(k(rec,0)/ cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1)) = -27.94 + 2.204log(10)T- 1.124log(10)(2)T, k(rec,infinity) = 3.5 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), F(c) = 0.60. For Ca(+) + H(2)O: log(10)(k(rec,0)/ cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1)) = -23.88 - 1.823log(10)T- 0.063log(10)(2)T, k(rec,infinity) = 7.3 x 10(-11)exp(830 J mol(-1)/RT) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), F(c) = 0.50 (F(c) is the broadening factor). A classical trajectory analysis of the Ca(+) + CO(2) reaction is then used to investigate the small high pressure limiting rate coefficient, which is significantly below the Langevin capture frequency. Finally, the implications of these results for calcium chemistry in the mesosphere are discussed.     

Protein adsorption behaviors onto photocatalytic Ti(IV)-doped calcium hydroxyapatite particles

The fundamental experiments on the adsorption behaviors of proteins onto photocatalytic Ti(4+)-doped calcium hydroxyapatite (TiHap) particles were examined comparing to those onto the calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHap) and commercially available typical titanium oxide (TiO(2)) photocatalyst (TKP-101). The heat treated TiHap and CaHap particles were also used after treated these particles at 650°C for 1h (abbreviated as TiHap650 and CaHap650, respectively). All the adsorption isotherms of bovine serum albumin (BSA), myoglobin (MGB) and lysozyme (LSZ) from 1×10(-4)mol/dm(3) KCl solution were the Langmuirian type. The saturated amounts of adsorbed BSA (n(s)(BSA)) for the CaHap650 particles was higher than that for CaHap. Similar results were observed for TiHap and TiHap650. The adsorption of LSZ exhibited the same result of BSA, while the saturated amounts of adsorbed LSZ (n(s)(LSZ)) value on the TiHap were much higher than CaHap. However, the saturated amounts of adsorbed MGB (n(s)(MGB)) are almost equal to those for the CaHap and TiHap nevertheless whether these particles were heat treated at 650°C or not. The TKP-101 exhibited extremely small adsorption capacity of all proteins due to its small particle size of ca. 4nm in diameter. The independence of the n(s)(MGB) value on the zeta potential (zp) of the particles was explained by the electrostatical neutrality of MGB molecules. On the other hand, the n(s)(LSZ) values were increased with increase in the negative zp of the particles. This fact was explained by increasing the electrostatic attractive forces between negatively charged particles and positively charged LSZ. However, the n(s)(BSA) values exhibit maxima for the heat treated TiHap650 and CaHap650 particles. This result was interpreted to the formation of β-TCP crystal phase by the heat treatment. The produced Ca(2+) ions by dissolution from β-TCP phase may exert as binders between BSA and surfaces of the heat treated particles.     

Platinum-osmium cluster complexes from the addition of Pt(PBut3) groups to Os3(CO)12

Three new compounds, PtOs(3)(CO)(12)(PBu(t)(3)) (10), Pt(2)Os(3)(CO)(12)(PBu(t)(3))(2) (11), and Pt(3)Os(3)(CO)(12)(PBu(t)(3))(3) (12), have been obtained from the reaction of Pt(PBu(t)(3))(2) with Os(3)(CO)(12) (9). The products were formed by the sequential addition of 1-3 Pt(PBu(t)(3)) groups to the three Os-Os bonds of the metal cluster of Os(3)(CO)(12). In solution, compounds 10-12 interconvert among themselves by intermolecular exchange of the Pt(PBu(t)(3)) groups. When 11 is treated with PPh(3), the mono- and bis(PPh(3)) derivatives of 9, Os(3)(CO)(11)(PPh(3)) and Os(3)(CO)(10)(PPh(3))(2), were obtained by elimination of the Pt(PBu(t)(3)) groups together with one and two CO ligands, respectively. When heated, compound 11 was transformed into the new compound Pt(2)Os(3)(CO)(10)(PBu(t)(3))(PBu(t)(2)CMe(2)CH(2))(mu-H) (13) by the loss of two CO ligands and a metalation of one of the methyl groups of one of the PBu(t)(3) ligands. Compounds 10-13 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

A surface adsorption/reaction mechanism for gold oxidation by copper(II) in ammoniacal thiosulfate solutions

Literature data for gold dissolution in ammoniacal copper(II) thiosulfate solutions is reinterpreted on the basis of adsorption and mixed potential theory. The dissolution reaction appears to take place via the adsorption of copper(II)-ammonia-thiosulfate onto the gold surface, forming the adsorbed species perpendicular to Au(S2O3)nCu(NH3)-(2n-2)p. Equilibrium constants for the formation of these species from Cu(NH3)(2+)m are in the range Kads=172-510 (molar units) for m=4, n=1 or 2, and p=2 or 3. These complexes decompose with a rate constant of kAu=1.7 x 10(-4)molm(-2)s(-1), to produce Au(S2O3)(3-)2 and Cu(NH3)+(3) or Cu(NH3)+(2), where the copper(I) complexes in solution are re-equilibrated to the more stable species Cu(S2O3)3-(2) and Cu(S2O2)5-(3).     

Dissolution kinetics of granular calcium carbonate in concentrated aqueous sodium dichromate solution at pH 6.0-7.0 and 110-130 degrees C

An understanding of the factors controlling calcite dissolution is important for modeling geochemical cycles and impacts of greenhouse gases on climate, diagenesis of sediments, and sedimentary rocks. It also has practical significance in the investigation of behavior of carbonates in petroleum and natural gas reservoirs and in the preservation of buildings and monuments constructed from limestone and marble. A large number of papers have been published on dissolution kinetics of calcium carbonate in aqueous solutions. But few involved the near-equilibrium region, especially at elevated temperatures and in concentrated solutions. In this paper, the dissolution kinetics of calcium carbonate in concentrated aqueous sodium dichromate solutions at pH 6.0-7.0 and 110-130 degrees C were studied in a 2-L autoclave. The results indicate that the dissolution reaction is mix-controlled, with surface reaction as the prevailing factor. The concentration of calcium ions in solution hardly affects the dissolution rate, but carbon dioxide in the vapor phase inhibits the dissolution reaction. The dissolution rate can be expressed by R = k(1)a(2)(H+) + k(2), and the apparent activation energy is 55-84 kJ mol(-1).     

Crystal structure analysis of [Ca(O3SC18H37)2(DMSO)2], a lamellar coordination polymer and its relevance for model studies in biomineralization

Single crystals of a one-dimensional Ca coordination polymer of the surfactant octadecyl sulfonate (C(18)H(37)SO(3)(-)) have been grown from hot DMSO solution. The X-ray structure analysis of the compound [Ca(O(3)SC(18)H(37))(2)(DMSO)(2)] (1) shows a lamellar interdigitated arrangement of hydrophobic tails of the amphiphilic ligands. Each Ca ion is coordinated by four different sulfonate groups, and its nearly octahedral coordination environment is completed by two dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) ligands. The octadecyl sulfonate ligand coordinates to Ca ions in a micro(2)-bridging mode, which contrasts to information from literature suggesting a micro(3)-bridging coordination mode. Since the growth of highly oriented calcite single crystals underneath Langmuir monolayers of this particular surfactant is often regarded as textbook example of a heteroepitaxy ("template") mechanism in biomineralization, we present a critical discussion of the crystal structure of the title compound in this context.     

Structure Refinement and Two-Center Luminescence of Ca(3)La(3)(BO(3))(5):Ce(3+) under VUV-UV Excitation

A series of Ca(3)La(3(1-x))Ce(3x)(BO(3))(5) phosphors were prepared by a high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. Rietveld refinement was performed using the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data, which shows occupation of Ce(3+) on both Ca(2+) and La(3+) sites with a preferred location on the La(3+) site over the Ca(2+) site. The prepared samples contain minor second phase LaBO(3) with contents of ～0.64-3.27 wt % from the Rietveld analysis. LaBO(3):1%Ce(3+) was prepared as a single phase material and its excitation and emission bands were determined for identifying the influence of impurity LaBO(3):Ce(3+) luminescence on the spectra of the Ca(3)La(3(1-x))Ce(3x)(BO(3))(5) samples. The luminescence properties of Ca(3)La(3(1-x))Ce(3x)(BO(3))(5) samples under vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and UV excitation were investigated, which exhibited two-center luminescence of Ce(3+), assigned to the Ce(1)(3+) center in the La(3+) site and Ce(2)(3+) center in the Ca(2+) site, taking into account the spectroscopic properties and the Rietveld refinement results. The influences of the doping concentration and the excitation wavelength on the luminescence of Ce(3+) in Ca(3)La(3(1-x))Ce(3x)(BO(3))(5) are discussed together with the decay characteristics.     

High-magnesian calcite mesocrystals: a coordination chemistry approach

While biogenic calcites frequently contain appreciable levels of magnesium, the pathways leading to such high concentrations remain unclear. The production of high-magnesian calcites in vitro is highly challenging, because Mg-free aragonite, rather than calcite, is the favored product in the presence of strongly hydrated Mg(2+) ions. While nature may overcome this problem by forming a Mg-rich amorphous precursor, which directly transforms to calcite without dissolution, high Mg(2+)/Ca(2+) ratios are required synthetically to precipitate high-magnesian calcite from solution. Indeed, it is difficult to synthesize amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) containing high levels of Mg, and the Mg is typically not preserved in the calcite product as the transformation occurs via a dissolution-reprecipitation route. We here present a novel synthetic method, which employs a strategy based on biogenic systems, to generate high-magnesian calcite. Mg-containing ACC is produced in a nonaqueous environment by reacting a mixture of Ca and Mg coordination complexes with CO(2). Control over the Mg incorporation is simply obtained by the ratio of the starting materials. Subsequent crystallization at reduced water activities in an organic solvent/water mixture precludes dissolution and reprecipitation and yields high-magnesian calcite mesocrystals with Mg contents as high as 53 mol %. This is in direct contrast with the polycrystalline materials generally observed when magnesian calcite is formed synthetically. Our findings give insight into the possible mechanisms of formation of biogenic high-magnesian calcites and indicate that precise control over the water activity may be a key element.     

Bio-inspired motifs via tandem assembly of polypeptides for mineralization of stable CaCO3 structures

A macromolecular-assembly of polypeptides constructs a network of anionic and cationic charges vital for recognizing and coassembling Ca(2+) and CO(3)(2-) ions to mineralize and stabilize different mineral forms of CaCO(3) with core-shell or solid morphologies in an aqueous solution.     

A kinetic study of Ca-containing ions reacting with O, O2, CO2 and H2O: implications for calcium ion chemistry in the upper atmosphere

A series of gas-phase reactions involving molecular Ca-containing ions was studied by the pulsed laser ablation of a calcite target to produce Ca(+) in a fast flow of He, followed by the addition of reagents downstream and detection of ions by quadrupole mass spectrometry. Most of the reactions that were studied are important for describing the chemistry of meteor-ablated calcium in the earth's upper atmosphere. The following rate coefficients were measured: k(CaO(+) + O --> Ca(+) + O(2)) = (4.2 +/- 2.8) x 10(-11) at 197 K and (6.3 +/- 3.0) x 10(-11) at 294 K; k(CaO(+) + CO --> Ca(+) + CO(2), 294 K) = (2.8 +/- 1.5) x 10(-10); k(Ca(+).CO(2) + O(2) --> CaO(2)(+) + CO(2), 294 K) = (1.2 +/- 0.5) x10(-10); k(Ca(+).CO(2) + H(2)O --> Ca(+).H(2)O + CO(2)) = (13.0 +/- 4.0) x 10(-10); and k(Ca(+).H(2)O + O(2) --> CaO(2)(+) + H(2)O, 294 K) = (4.0 +/- 2.5) x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The quoted uncertainties are a combination of the 1sigma standard errors in the kinetic data and the systematic errors in the models used to extract the rate coefficients. Rate coefficients were also obtained for the following recombination (also termed association) reactions in He bath gas: k(Ca(+).CO(2) + CO(2) --> Ca(+).(CO(2))(2), 294 K) = (2.6 +/- 1.0) x 10(-29); k(Ca(+).H(2)O + H(2)O --> Ca(+).(H(2)O)(2)) = (1.6 +/- 1.1) x 10(-27); and k(CaO(2)(+) + O(2) --> CaO(2)(+).O(2)) < 1 x 10(-31) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1). These recombination rate coefficients, as well as those for the ligand-switching reactions listed above, were then interpreted using a combination of high level quantum chemistry calculations and RRKM theory using an inverse Laplace transform solution of the master equation. The surprisingly slow reaction between CaO(+) and O was explained using quantum chemistry calculations on the lowest (2)A', (2)A' and (4)A' potential energy surfaces. These calculations indicate that reaction mostly occurs on the (2)A' surface, leading to production of Ca(+)((2)S) + O(2)((1)Delta(g)). The importance of this reaction for controlling the lifetime of Ca(+) in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere is then discussed.