Effects of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene on morphology and polymorph of CaCO_3 crystals in the presence of SDS

摘要

Crystal growth of calcium carbonate (CaCO_3) was studied in the presence of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (TMB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Novel results were obtained. TMB can be used to modify the morphology and polymorph of CaCO_3 crystals through the molecules located between the alkyl chains of SDS micelles. In the present conditions, the aragonite was first produced, the as-prepared aragonite transformed to the vaterite, the as-prepared vaterite transformed to the calcite, through the dissolution-recrystallization processes. These dissolution-recrystallization processes induced the rough and porous surfaces of the as-prepared sphere-like structures. Specially, it was found that the hexagonal particles were produced through different processes. First, the ellipse-like structure can break to produce the hexagonal particles. Second, the sphere-like structure can transform to the hexagonal particles.