Surface passivation by embedment of polyphosphate inhibits the aragonite-to-calcite thermodynamic pump

Abstract

We monitored the conversion of aragonite to calcite in water by comparing single and mixed polymorph suspensions. We demonstrate that the enhanced aragonite-to-calcite conversion in mixed polymorph suspensions is dramatically inhibited by adding polyphosphate (sodium hexametaphosphate). 13C and 31P solid-state magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra allow us to follow quantitatively these effects as imparted by the dissolution-recrystallization processes. 31P{13C} and 13C{31P} rotational echo double resonance (REDOR)NMR experiments reveal coprecipitated phosphate that is embedded only within the surfaces of both polymorphs during the initial dissolution and recrystallization processes, causing passivation that arrests phase conversion.