The nucleation and growth kinetics of calcium oxalate in the presence of some synthetic urine constituents

Abstract

We determined quantitative nucleation and growth kinetics of calcium oxalate in the presence of various combinations of urine constituents, using a continuous mixed suspension mixed product removal crystallizer and a Coulter counter. Nucleation rates of calcium oxalate from the pure component system were approximately an order of magnitude higher than those from an artificial urine. The presence of citrate inhibited nucleation rates under high conditions. The ions Na+, K+, NH4+, Cl-, and SO42- did not affect the overall kinetics in the synthetic urine. Di- and tri-hydrate products were formed, except when crystallizing from pure components, when only the thermodynamically stable monohydrate was observed.