CaCO3 crystallization with feeding of aspartic acid

Aspartic acid (Asp) was employed as the organic template in inducing the nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate. Crystallization experiments were carried out by the addition of Asp into the solution of sodium carbonate and calcium chloride. The effects of reaction time, dropping velocity of Asp and Na2CO3 solution were tested. The CaCO3 crystals were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). Two kinds of crystals were identified by FT-IR spectrum. In the presence of Asp, formation of vaterite is induced in crystallization solution. Also, under the initial condition of an excess amount of Asp, vaterite morphology is the major one. Various morphologies of CaCO3 are made by changing dropping velocity of added Asp and Na2CO3.