Room temperature bio-engineered multifunctional carbonates for CO 2 sequestration and valorization.

This contribution reports, for the first time, on an entirely green bio-engineering approach for the biosynthesis of single phase crystalline 1-D nano-scaled calcite CaCO ₃ . This was validated using H ₂ O as the universal solvent and natural extract of Hyphaene thebaica fruit as an effective chelating agent. In this room temperature green process, CaCl ₂ and CO ₂ are used as the unique source of Ca and CO ₃ respectively in view of forming nano-scaled CaCO ₃ with a significant shape anisotropy and an elevated surface to volume ratio. In terms of novelty, and relatively to the reported scientific and patented literature in relation to the fabrication of CaCO ₃ by green nano-chemistry, the current cost effective room temperature green process can be singled out as per the following specificities: only water as universal solvent is used, No additional base or acid chemicals for pH control, No additional catalyst, No critical or supercritical CO ₂ usage conditions, Only natural extract of thebaica as a green effective chelating agent through its phytochemicals and proper enzematic compounds, room Temperature processing, atmospheric pressure processing, Nanoscaled size particles, and Nanoparticles with a significant shape anisotropy (1-D like nanoparticles). Beyond and in addition to the validation of the 1-D synthesis aspect, the bio-engineered CaCO ₃ exhibited a wide-ranging functionalities in terms of highly reflecting pigment, an effective nanofertilizer as well as a potential binder in cement industry.
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