Synthesis of Calcium Acetate Nanoparticles in the Reaction of Acetic Acid with Calcite

The acidification process in carbonate tanks is used to remove inactive layers of calcium carbonate. In this study, the acidification process was investigated using acetic acid (an organic acid) on calcium carbonate powder. The effects of various parameters, such as different reaction environment temperatures and different acetic acid concentrations, on calcium acetate precipitation and the reaction rate were examined. Experiments were conducted at temperatures of 35, 45, and 50 degrees Celsius, with acetic acid concentrations ranging from 5% to 30% by weight. The results showed that calcium acetate precipitation only formed at a concentration of 30% by weight, where no solution remained after the reaction, and the process led entirely to precipitation formation. To prevent the formation of sediment and enhance the capacity of the reaction medium in retaining calcium acetate particles in the nano-size range, the anionic surfactant dodecyl sulfate was used at a concentration of 0.001 M. The results indicated that increasing both the temperature and acetic acid concentration led to an increase in the reaction rate. Finally, to optimize the results, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) experiment design software was employed. It was found that at an acetic acid concentration of 19.468% by weight and a temperature of 50°C, no precipitation was formed, and the highest reaction rate was achieved.