Surface-controlled reactivity of metal carbonates

摘要

Metal carbonate surfaces are a common component of soils, sediments, terrestrial organisms, and many engineered structures. The surface-controlled growth and dissolution of metal carbonate minerals (e.g. calcite) often affects fluid flow in pipes (through scaling) as well as the nanoscale assembly of complex biologic structures (similar reactions control Ca levels in the oceans, and ultimately, long-term Co_2 levels). Engineering metal carbonate surface chemistry to enhance or inhibit impact. Metal carbonate superstructures are rapidly altered by dissolution /re-precipitation reactions, necessitating the measurement of surface chemistry near equilibrium. Measurements of metal sorption using limited residence time reactors point to the importance of adsorbed / exchangedmetla ions in controlling surface charge and electrokinetic behavior. The same reactions appear to control growth and dissolution rates as well.