Calcium Carbonate

About Calcium Carbonate

Calcium carbonate is the most commonly used formulation in medicine, primarily because of its high calcium content (40% by weight) and then for ease of accessibility, low cost and its acidic nature. This carbonate is a polymorphic material that has three anhydrous crystalline phases, i.e. calcite, aragonite and vaterite, and one amorphous phase. Among them, calcite is known to be the most stable phase under ambient atmospheric conditions. However, all three phases can be employed in the fabrication of organic and inorganic compounds.

Since calcium is an essential nutrient for normal growth and development, calcium carbonate supplements are the favorable diet in patients with skeletal and nonskeletal disorders like osteoporosis, essential hypertension, gestational hypertension, hypercholesteremia, and cancers. It helps with the regulation of different cell functions and is a necessary structural component of bone.

Furthermore, calcium carbonate as an antacid used for the symptomatic relief of heartburn, acid indigestion, and sour stomach. It acts by neutralizing hydrochloric acid in gastric secretions; Subsequent increases in pH may inhibit the action of pepsin. An increase in bicarbonate ions and prostaglandins may also confer cytoprotective effects.

Aside from its clinical applications, calcium carbonate also displays useful applications in the water purification field. For example, Kyong-Soo Hong et al. have developed a starfish-shaped CaCO₃ to remove heavy metal ions such as Cu⁺², Pb⁺², Cd⁺², Zn⁺² and Cr⁺⁶. This starfish CaCO₃ filter has shown higher efficiency in removing heavy metals than other conventional filters such as activated carbon, crab shell and sawdust.

In chemical engineering, Ganiyu Latinwo et al. used calcium carbonate particles to improve the mechanical properties of polyurethane foam. They wanted to develop economic foams with high compression resistance.

Furthermore, calcium carbonate has been studied for drug delivery carriers. Yaran Zhang et al. have studied the biocompatibility of calcium carbonate particles on Hela cells. The researchers have found the minimal and safe dosage of calcium carbonate particles for maximizing therapeutic activity without negatively affecting the biosystem.

Finally, carbonate rocks have been used in the cement industries and construction engineering for several years in a form of ground calcium carbonate (GCC).