The dynamic nature of natural and fatty acid modified calcite surfaces

Abstract

Calcium carbonate, particularly in the form of calcite, is an abundant mineral widely used in both human-made products and biological systems. The calcite surface possesses a high surface energy, making it susceptible to the adsorption of organic contaminants. Moreover, the surface is also reactive towards a range of chemicals, including water. Consequently, studying and maintaining a clean and stable calcite surface is only possible under ultrahigh vacuum conditions and for limited amounts of time. When exposed to air or solution, the calcite surface undergoes rapid transformations, demanding a comprehensive understanding of the properties of calcite surfaces in different environments. Similarly, attention must also be directed towards the kinetics of changes, whether induced by fluctuating environments or at constant condition. All these aspects are encompassed in the expression “dynamic nature”, and are of crucial importance in the context of the diverse applications of calcite. In many instances, the calcite surface is modified by adsorption of fatty acids to impart a desired nonpolar character. Although the binding between carboxylic acid groups and calcite surfaces is strong, the fatty acid layer used for surface modification undergoes significant alterations when exposed to water vapour and liquid water droplets. Therefore, it is also crucial to understand the dynamic nature of the adsorbed layer. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of both the dynamics of the calcite surface as well as when modified by fatty acid surface treatments.