Calcite Grain Size Control via Caustic Soda Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for synthesizing calcite struggle to control grain size and whiteness, leading to high production costs and dependence on imported high-purity calcite, which limits its industrial applications and adds value to the material.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of an aqueous calcium chloride solution and an aqueous caustic soda solution, where the concentration of the caustic soda solution is adjusted to control the grain size of calcite crystals, allowing for the production of calcite with grain sizes ranging from several nanometers to several micrometers, achieved by reacting the solutions under room temperature and pressure with CO2 gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional methods (lime soda method or soda method) are used to synthesize calcite, then production cost is reduced, but grain size and grain shape cannot be controlled and purity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of the aqueous caustic soda solution to control calcite grain size. By adjusting the caustic soda concentration from 0.1N to 10N, the grain size can be precisely controlled from several micrometers to several nanometers, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of calcium carbonate during crystallization from aqueous solution. By controlling the reaction conditions and caustic soda concentration, the crystallization process produces calcite with controlled grain sizes, achieving both precision and manufacturability
2Manufacturing precision
If grain size of calcite is reduced to nano-size level, then whiteness and functional value increase, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter change (caustic soda concentration) as a low-cost method to control grain size. This avoids expensive equipment and complex processes, achieving nano-size calcite production with controlled costs by simply adjusting chemical concentration parameters
3Manufacturing precision
If high-purity calcite is produced with grain size control, then added value and industrial applicability increase, but dependence on imported resources remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses readily available materials (aqueous calcium chloride solution and aqueous caustic soda solution) to produce high-purity calcite with controlled grain size. This self-sufficient method eliminates dependence on imported high-purity calcite resources by enabling domestic production of specification-grade material
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method of synthesizing high-purity calcite capable of controlling a grain size thereof, by reacting an aqueous calcium chloride solution with CO2 gas under strong alkaline condition, to crystallize into white and ultra-fine grain calcite. The method of synthesizing fine-grain calcite according to the present disclosure can decrease super-saturation by producing calcite under the strong alkaline conditions, thereby suppressing generation and growth of grain, resulting in controlling the grain size. Therefore, the above method is useful in producing high-purity ultra-fine grain calcite and can control the grain size of calcite from several hundreds of nanometers to several tens of nanometers by regulating the concentration of an aqueous caustic soda solution.