Proton-controlled mechanism for coupling among proton production/consumption reactions in CaCO3-oversaturated waters or calcifying organism-inhabited seawaters
Open Access
- 31 December 2010
- journal article
- Published by European Journal of Chemistry in European Journal of Chemistry
- Vol. 1 (4), 246-251
- https://doi.org/10.5155/eurjchem.1.4.246-251.156
Abstract
The CaCO3-oversaturated weakly basic water at around pH=8 was proved by the novel simple equations (e.g. log [Ca2+] = -2pH -logPCO2 + 9.94) derived from material energetics and proton-controlled mechanism for coupling among proton/hydroxide production/consumption reactions (e.g. CaCO3 + H+↔HCO3- + Ca2+) in equilibrium with atmospheric carbon dioxide. The cyclic/oscillating variation between pH=8.3 and 8.0 for marine calcifying organism-inhabited paleo and preindustrial seawaters was elucidated by applying the improved proton-controlled mechanismto biochemical reactions in cytoplasts or host tissues of marine calcifying phytoplanktons and phytosymbiont-bearing corals/zooplanktons. It was revealed that photosynthesis enhances biogenic calcificationand vice versa, as the thicker growth of CaCO3-made outer casings causes proton production and photosynthesis continuously needs protons to produce CO2(aq) from major HCO3-. The correlation between calcification and photosynthesis creates a number of stationary states with respect to oscillating pH variation. Marine biogenic calcification reaction releases no CO2 to atmosphere and is no positive feedback to rising atmospheric PCO2 levels.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- Carbonic Anhydrase in the Scleractinian Coral Stylophora pistillataOnline Journal of Public Health Informatics, 2008
- Protein-based organelles in bacteria: carboxysomes and related microcompartmentsNature Reviews Microbiology, 2008
- Marine Calcifiers in a High-CO 2 OceanScience, 2008
- Buffering Dissociation/Formation Reaction of Biogenic Calcium CarbonateChemistry – A European Journal, 2007
- Effect of varying calcium concentrations and light intensities on calcification and photosynthesis in Emiliania huxleyiLimnology and Oceanography, 2007
- Preindustrial to Modern Interdecadal Variability in Coral Reef pHScience, 2005
- Impact of Anthropogenic CO 2 on the CaCO 3 System in the OceansScience, 2004
- The future of the carbon cycle: review, calcification response, ballast and feedback on atmospheric CO2Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 2003
- Control of Calcium Carbonate Polymorphism and Morphology through Biomimetic Mineralization by means of NanotechnologyChemistry – A European Journal, 2003
- Potential Symbionts in Bathyal ForaminiferaScience, 2003