Abstract:
The investigation of the Cu2+ uptake by the calcium carbonate minerals vaterite and calcite with continuous wave and pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) yields information on a molecular scale about the relevant complexation reactions at the mineral–water interface. The structural assignment is based on changes in the coordination geometry of the copper complexes. Magnetic interactions of the unpaired Cu2+ electron with nuclei of 13C-labeled carbonate ligands and protons from water or hydroxyl ligands in the first and second coordination spheres of the cation are detected by pulse EPR techniques. Our results show that the Cu2+ ions are rapidly dehydrated upon adsorption on the mineral surface. The strong surface binding is due to monodentate coordination to three or four carbonate surface ions, comparable to chelate complexation in solution. The formation of square-planar or square-pyramidal copper complexes at exposed surface sites like kinks and steps yields a convincing explanation for the inhibition of calcium carbonate growth and dissolution. Upon recrystallization the Cu2+ ions are integrated into the calcite lattice where they exhibit a dynamic Jahn–Teller effect. The resulting local lattice distortions are expected to destabilize the CuxCa(1−x)CO3(s) solid solution. Our results support the concept of a dynamic calcium carbonate surface, covered by a thin, structured surface layer. The detailed structural information obtained for Cu2+ provides a better understanding of the interaction of other metal ions with calcium carbonate minerals.