Effect of amino acids and B-group vitamins on nucleation of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals

Abstract

Abstract Studied is the influence of amino acids (L-Asp, L-Arg, L-Thr) and B-group vitamins (B1, B6, B12) on the processes of nucleation and the value of surface energy of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals. It is established that L-Asp and L-Arg molecules inhibit nucleation of COM, that increases their induction time tenfold in comparison with the one of the pure crystals. L-Thr amino acid is shown to promote the processes of COM nucleation and to diminish the induction time by two times. At the introduction of L-Asp and L-Arg molecules into the solution the degree of COM crystal growth inhibition is 32.0–90.2% and 10.2–86.0% respectively. It is found that B1 and B6 vitamins inhibit the growth of COM crystals practically completely (the inhibition degree exceeds 95%) and lead to 70-fold increase in the induction time of pure COM. The value of surface energy of COM crystals diminishes to 19.8–20.8 mJ/m2 at the introduction of the crystallization inhibitor molecules (L-Asp, L-Arg, B1, B6) into COM solution.