Effects of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene on morphology and polymorph of CaCO3 crystals in the presence of SDS

Crystal growth of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was studied in the presence of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (TMB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Novel results were obtained. TMB can be used to modify the morphology and polymorph of CaCO3 crystals through the molecules located between the alkyl chains of SDS micelles. In the present conditions, the aragonite was first produced, the as-prepared aragonite transformed to the vaterite, the as-prepared vaterite transformed to the calcite, through the dissolution–recrystallization processes. These dissolution–recrystallization processes induced the rough and porous surfaces of the as-prepared sphere-like structures. Specially, it was found that the hexagonal particles were produced through different processes. First, the ellipse-like structure can break to produce the hexagonal particles. Second, the sphere-like structure can transform to the hexagonal particles.