Atomistic Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Carbohydrate-Calcite Interactions in Concentrated Brine

We report atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to study the interactions of a model carbohydrate monomer (Glucopyranose) and calcite slabs in brine. We show that the interactions between the sugar molecules and the mineral decrease with increasing salinity. The decrease is due to the formation of salt layers on the calcite surfaces, which screen the carbohydrate-calcite hydrogen bonding. This screening effect depends on the affinities of calcite surface to specific ions as well as to the carbohydrate molecules.