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Letter. Observation of nano-clustered calcite growth via a transient phase mediated by organic polyanions: A close match for biomineralization

  • Ingo Sethmann EMAIL logo , Andrew Putnis , Olaf Grassmann and Peer Löbmann
Published/Copyright: March 28, 2015
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Abstract

We present a process of organic polyanion-mediated CaCO3 precipitation similar to biomineralization. Detailed insight into the formation pathway of nano-structured calcite crystals was gained through direct observation with an atomic force microscope (AFM). Essentially depending on a minimum saturation state, a primarily precipitated gelatinous film of polyaspartate calcifies as a transient, apparently amorphous phase, which gradually crystallizes as a calcitic single-crystalline nano-cluster of semicoherent domains. The similarity of this precipitation mechanism with that of biominerals and a striking consistency of materials properties of the synthetic precipitate with sea urchin calcite, investigated as a prime example of biomineralization, qualify our experiment as a functional model of biomineralization. The substantial role of water-soluble organic polyanions in biomineralization is elucidated.

Received: 2004-10-18
Accepted: 2005-2-24
Published Online: 2015-3-28
Published in Print: 2005-7-1

© 2015 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston

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