화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol.261, No.4, 539-548, 2004
Atomic force microscopy of growth and dissolution of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals
The growth and dissolution of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals up to 30 mum in length were investigated in situ by atomic force microscopy. The fast-growing faces grew by the dislocation mechanism, the slow-growing ones (in most cases), by forming 2D-nuclei. The velocity of moving steps at different supersaturations, the normal rates of growth and dissolution of these faces were measured. The dissolution. rate was found to be 3 times higher in the specially prepared Aqua RX water than in distilled water. Adding a small,amount of Al and Fe ions to the water resulted in 5-fold increase of the dissolution rate. Intensive dissolution was observed even when these ions were added to a supersaturated solution. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.