The mechanisms of crystal growth inhibition by organic and inorganic inhibitors.

ABSTRACT: Understanding mineral growth mechanism is a key to understanding biomineralisation, fossilisation and diagenesis. The presence of trace compounds affect the growth and dissolution rates and the form of the crystals produced. Organisms use ions and organic molecules to control the growth of hard parts by inhibition and enhancement. Calcite growth in the presence of Mg²⁺ is a good example. Its inhibiting role in biomineralisation is well known, but the controlling mechanisms are still debated. Here, we use a microkinetic model for a series of inorganic and organic inhibitors of calcite growth. With one, single, nonempirical parameter per inhibitor, i.e. its adsorption energy, we can quantitatively reproduce the experimental data and unambiguously establish the inhibition mechanism

SUBMITTER: Dobberschutz S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5910393 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature