UNUSUAL MORPHOLOGY OF CALCIUM CARBONATE CONTROLLED BY AMINO ACIDS IN AGAROSE GEL

The polar amino acid, such as aspartic acid (L-Asp) and arginine(L-Arg) are the primary active molecules of the glycoprotein on the organic/inorganic interface of biomineralized tissue. In this study, aspartic acid and arginine were used as the organic template in inducing the nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate. With the analysis of X-ray diffraction we investigated the relationship between amino acid concentration and the precipitation phase crystal structure of calcium carbonate. SEM was employed in the analysis of the morphological characteristic of the precipitation. To interpret the cause of the hierarchic structure was proposed from the view of the small biomolecules polarity that can control over the growth of the crystals and the aggregation of the micro crystals. The conclusion also provides a new material synthesize strategy.