Visualization of pH and ionic concentration around forming/dissolving minerals with fluorescent probe

Abstract

To understand the growth or dissolution mechanism of minerals in aqueous solution, analyzing the local conditions of the solution around the dissolving or forming minerals is important. Recently, we succeeded in visualizing using a fluorescent probe (i) the distribution of pH and calcium ion concentration simultaneously around a calcium carbonate crystal dissolving in aqueous solution, and (ii) pH distribution for the calcium carbonate formation process in gel media. These results could provide new insights into the knowledge of the dissolution/formation reaction of minerals in aqueous solutions.