Flow-driven control of calcium carbonate precipitation patterns in a confined geometry

Abstract

Upon injection of an aqueous solution of carbonate into a solution of calcium ions in the confined geometry of a Hele-Shaw cell, various calcium carbonate precipitation patterns are observed. We discuss here the properties of these precipitation structures as a function of the injection flow rate and concentrations of the reactants. We show that such flow-controlled conditions can be used to influence the total amount and the spatial distribution of the solid phase produced as well as the reaction efficiency defined here as the amount of product formed for a given initial concentration of the injected solution.