High Yield of Vaterite Precipitation Induced by Trace Lanthanum Ion from a Supersaturated Solution of Calcium Carbonate at 50 °C

Abstract The formation of calcium carbonate from a supersaturated solution doped with trace lanthanum was studied at various temperatures. At a temperature of around 50 °C, more than 80% of calcium carbonate precipitated from 5 μmol kg−1 LaCl3, 15 mmol kg−1 CaCl2-NaHCO3 solution was vaterite while from a lanthanum-free solution calcium carbonate precipitated exclusively as calcite.