Precipitation of calcium carbonate by ultrasonic irradiation

Supersaturated solution of calcium carbonate ([Ca2+] = 1.2 mmol/L, [HCO3-] = 3.2 mmol/L, pH = 8.8, T = 30 +/- 0.5 degrees C), a scale forming component, was irradiated by an ultrasonic homogenizer (24 kHz, 15-250 W/cm2) to study the factors that affect its precipitation rate. The factors of (1) depth of horn immersion, (2) ultrasonic intensity and horn tip size and (3) cavitation, which can affect the precipitation rate were investigated in this study. Ultrasonic irradiation was observed to accelerate the precipitation of calcium carbonate and it was found that there exists an optimum range of horn immersion depth for maximizing the precipitation rate. The experimental data also established that the precipitation rate was proportional to ultrasonic intensity and diameter of horn tip. These findings were correlated to the effects of physical mixing, that arises due to ultrasonic irradiation. However, the effect of cavitation in accelerating the precipitation rate was found to be small. Thus it is forwarded that the physical mixing effect, especially macrostreaming is the main factor that accelerates the precipitation rate of calcium carbonate during ultrasonic treatment. Further, neither the morphology nor the size of the calcium carbonate crystals formed were found to be affected by the ultrasonic irradiation.