The effect of ergocalciferol on the precipitation of calcium carbonate

We have conducted the first study on the effect of ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) on the polymorphism of calcium carbonate. CaCO3 particles are synthesised from aqueous solutions of sodium carbonate and calcium chloride, in the presence of vitamin D2 with different concentrations, at temperatures ranging from 25 to 80 °C. The effect of the additive on the polymorphism and the morphology of the CaCO3 crystallites are characterised using X-ray quantitative phase analysis, scanning electron microcopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Our results show that the presence of vitamin D2 has an impact on the morphology and composition of the CaCO3 crystallites. Vitamin D2 was demonstrated to promote the formation of aragonite à 50 °C with a volume fraction that can reach 83%. Such effect can be attributed to the formation of D2-Ca+2 ion solution complexes and their adsorption on the surfaces of the CaCO3 crystallites.