Title: Synthesis and modification of calcium carbonate nano-particles via reverse micro-emulsion method

Authors: Aboutaleb Ghadami Jadval Ghadam; Mohammad Idrees; S. Alim Husain Naqvi

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Department of Oil, Yasouj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasouj 75914-93686, K.B., Iran ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Z.H. College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, UP, India ' Department of Applied Physics, Z.H. College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, UP, India

Abstract: Two reverse microemulsion system of surfactants (Span®80 and Tween®80)/Toluene/water was selected for synthesis of CaCO3 nano-particles. CaCO3 particles synthesised were surface modified by stearic acid. The effect of different concentrations of surfactants (span-80/tween-80) on the synthesis of nano-CaCO3 was investigated. The material was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA) techniques. XRD patterns confirmed spherical structure of nano-CaCO3 showing characteristic reflection of calcite phase. The size of the nano-particles was determined by TEM as well as XRD data for various concentrations of surfactants. The results showed that the size of the nano-particles was influenced by the concentration of the surfactants in the micro-emulsion system. TGA results demonstrated that decreasing the size of nano-particles resulted in the weight loss: these thermal decompositions may be attributed to calcite.

Keywords: calcium carbonate; nanoparticles; reverse microemulsion; co-surfactants; thermal properties; nanotechnology; thermal decomposition.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNBM.2014.061808

International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials, 2014 Vol.5 No.1, pp.14 - 26

Published online: 30 Jun 2014 *

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