Effect of critical micelle concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate dissolved in calcium and carbonate source solutions on characteristics of calcium carbonate crystals

Abstract

Various concentrations of anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), were used to control the growth of calcium carbonate crystals. The obtained calcium carbonate particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), laser scattering particle size analyzer and zeta potential analyzer techniques. The effect of various concentrations including critical micelle concentration (CMC) in calcium and carbonate source solutions on the polymorph, morphology, particle size distribution and zeta potential of the particles were studied. It was demonstrated that varied SDS concentrations in carbonate source solution has obvious effect on the characteristics of calcium carbonate particles, while varied SDS concentration in calcium source solution does not affect the characteristics. Also, it was observed that SDS affected orientation development of calcium carbonate crystals. © 2010 The Japan Institute of Metals.