Amorphous calcium carbonate:: Synthesis and potential intermediate in biomineralization

Amorphous calcium carbonate is produced as spherical particles (see Figure) via in-situ generation Of CO2 by hydrolysis of dialkyl carbonates in aqueous solution of CaCl2 at room temperature. This method of synthesis' (precipitation) allows detailed studies of the particle formation process. Temperature-dependent results are rationalized in terms of a phase diagram that assumes a liquid-liquid immiscibility gap with a lower critical separation temperature.