A5089314465- Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition
- Crystallization and Solubility Studies
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Minerals Flotation and Separation Techniques
- nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions
- Building materials and conservation
- CO2 Sequestration and Geologic Interactions
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Concrete and Cement Materials Research
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Mine drainage and remediation techniques
- Mineralogy and Gemology Studies
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Clay minerals and soil interactions
- Drilling and Well Engineering
- X-ray Diffraction in Crystallography
- Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Geotechnical and Geomechanical Engineering
- Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
- Solidification and crystal growth phenomena
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Chemical Synthesis and Characterization
Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra
2011-2025
Henry Ford Health System
2025
Universidad de Granada
2008-2024
Université Gustave Eiffel
2016-2024
Institut des Sciences de la Terre
2016-2024
Université Savoie Mont Blanc
2018-2024
Université Grenoble Alpes
2016-2023
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
2018-2023
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2016-2023
Institut Français
2021-2023
Roundabout Gypsum Calcium sulfates are a common but perhaps underappreciated group of minerals used in number natural and industrial processes. In many ways, these crystals precipitate from solution the same way that most other aqueous form; however, mounting evidence suggests different, unexplored mechanisms may be at work. Van Driessche et al. (p. 69 ; see cover) performed high-resolution microscopy calcium sulfate mineral, gypsum, various points along time-resolved, fast-quenching growth...
The formation pathways of gypsum remain uncertain. Here, using truly in situ and fast time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering, we quantify the four-stage solution-based nucleation growth (CaSO4·2H2O), an important mineral phase on Earth Mars. reaction starts through well-defined, primary species <3 nm length (stage I), followed stage II by their arrangement into domains. variations volume fractions electron densities suggest that these forming contain Ca-SO4-cores self-assemble III large...
Significance Intermediate metastable states are believed to be vital in the process of nucleation crystalline material from solution. Our experimental evidence shows such intermediates can liquid-like clusters that stable with respect parent liquid and compared emerging phase. Under given conditions, these contribute actively process, hence, at least case for proteins tested, partake a two-step process. Moreover, upon merging crystal lattice, lead nonclassical mechanism growth triggers...
Significance The formation of the nuclei protein crystals has been suggested to occur within protein-rich mesoscopic clusters. existence such clusters revealed for many proteins; however, their role in crystallization is still unclear. Our live images a solution using transmission electron microscopy reveal that are solid amorphous particles work as heterogeneous nucleation sites. event crystal starts via another noncrystalline particle, which appears only few seconds before nucleation, is,...
Abstract It is widely accepted that many phase transitions do not follow nucleation pathways as envisaged by the classical theory. Many substances can traverse intermediate states before arriving at stable phase. The apparent ubiquity of multi-step has made inverse question relevant: does multistep always dominate single-step pathways? Here we provide an explicit example mechanism for a system known to exhibit characteristics nucleation. Molecular resolution atomic force microscopy imaging...
Despite a millennial history and the ubiquitous presence of cement in everyday life, molecular processes underlying its hydration behavior, like formation calcium–silicate–hydrate (C–S–H), binding phase concrete, are mostly unexplored. Using time-resolved potentiometry turbidimetry combined with dynamic light scattering, small-angle X-ray cryo-TEM, we demonstrate C–S–H to proceed via complex two-step pathway. In first step, amorphous dispersed spheroids formed, whose composition is depleted...
Mineral nucleation and growth can produce remarkable structures in nature. Unique examples include the colossal gypsum crystals from Naica (Mexico), stalactites/stalagmites Zhijin Cave (China), colorful hydrothermal of Dallol (Ethiopia). These formations exemplify beauty complexity that emerge rather simple mineral processes. Beyond that, they reflect specific conditions, including near-equilibrium states, extreme salinities, or exceptional slow rates. As these conditions are nearly...
A molecular understanding of the formation solid phases from solution would be beneficial for various scientific fields. However, nucleation pathways are still not fully understood, whereby case iron (oxyhydr)oxides poses a prime example. We show that in prenucleation regime, thermodynamically stable solute species up to few nanometers size observed, which meet definition clusters. Nucleation then is governed by critical size, but rather dynamics clusters forming at distinct stages, based on...
Here, we show that calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) can be directly, rapidly and reversibly converted to hemihydrate (bassanite) in high salinity solutions (brines). The optimum conditions for the efficient production of bassanite a short time (<5 min) involve use brines with c(NaCl) > 4 M maintaining temperature, T 80 °C. When solution containing crystals is cooled down around room eventually gypsum formed. temperature raised again °C, re-precipitated. This contrasts better-known...
Mineralogical processes taking place close to equilibrium, or with very slow kinetics, are difficult quantify precisely. The determination of ultraslow dissolution/precipitation rates would reveal characteristic timing associated these that important at geological scale. We have designed an advanced high-resolution white-beam phase-shift interferometry microscope measure growth crystals low supersaturation values. To test this technique, we selected the giant gypsum Naica ore mines in...
Densely packed surface fractal aggregates form in systems with high local volume fractions of particles very short diffusion lengths, which effectively means that have little space to move. However, there are no prior mathematical models, would describe scattering from such and allow the subdivision between inter- intraparticle interferences aggregates. Here, we show by including a factor function primary building aggregate, finite size interfacial sub-surfaces can be derived structure term....
Abstract Calcium sulfate is a naturally abundant and technologically important mineral with broad scope of applications. However, controlling CaSO 4 polymorphism and, it, its final material properties still represents major challenge, to date there no universal method for the selective production different hydrated anhydrous forms under mild conditions. Herein we report first successful synthesis pure anhydrite from solution at room temperature. We precipitated calcium in alcoholic media low...
Understanding the gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) formation pathway from aqueous solution has been subject of intensive research in past years. This interest stems fact that appears to fall into a broader category crystalline materials whose does not follow classical nucleation and growth theories. The pathways involve transitory precursor cluster species, yet actual structural properties such clusters are very well understood. Here, we show how situ high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments molecular...
Kristen Fichthorn opened the discussion of introductory lecture by James De Yoreo: I noted that in your potential mean force (PMF) plots for various particle orientations, fluctuations occur such different orientations could be preferred at a fixed distance. Could this affect ag
Multiple-step nucleation pathways have been observed during mineral formation in both inorganic and biomineral systems. These can involve precursor aqueous species, amorphous intermediates, or metastable phases. Despite the widespread occurrence of these processes, elucidating precise steps transformation mechanisms between each step remains a challenging task. Using suite potentiometric, microscopic, spectroscopic tools, we studied pathway SrSO4 as function physico-chemical solution...
In this work we studied the kinetics of gypsum crystals growing from aqueous solutions as a function temperature and supersaturation. Laser confocal differential interference contrast microscopy (LCM-DIM) atomic force (AFM) were used to observe in situ step advancement evolution surface morphology {010} face. We found that, for experimental conditions study, 2D nucleation is main generation mechanism, even at low supersaturations, only few spiral hillocks observed. Due elongated islands...