Articles | Volume 38, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-38-557-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-38-557-2026
Research article
 | 
21 Sep 2026
Research article |  | 21 Sep 2026

Quantitative analysis of aragonite-group carbonates synthetic mixtures using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared

Mahmoud Alkhatib, Nabil Thabteh, Fuad Al-Rimawi, and Mutaz Qutob

Cited articles

Alia, J. M., De Mera, Y. D., Edwards, H. G. M., Martín, P. G., and Andrés, S. L.: FT-Raman and infrared spectroscopic study of aragonite-strontianite (CaxSr1 xCO3) solid solution, Spectrochim. Acta A, 53, 2347–2362, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1386-1425(97)00175-3, 1997. 
Alkhatib, M.: Trace element and isotope measurement on artificially precipitated calcium carbonate, Doctoral dissertation, https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/33466/1/Alkhatib_Thesis.pdf (last access: 10 July 2026), 2016. 
AlKhatib, M. and Eisenhauer, A.: Calcium and strontium isotope fractionation in aqueous solutions as a function of temperature and reaction rate; I. Calcite, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 209, 296–319, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2016.09.035, 2017a. 
AlKhatib, M. and Eisenhauer, A.: Calcium and strontium isotope fractionation during precipitation from aqueous solutions as a function of temperature and reaction rate; II. Aragonite, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 209, 320–342, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.04.012, 2017b. 
Alkhatib, M., Qutob, M., Alkhatib, S., and Eisenhauer, A.: Strontium isotope fractionation during precipitation of strontianite in aqueous solutions as a function of temperature and reaction rate, Chem. Geol., 587, 120625, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120625, 2022. 
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Short summary
Attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy was applied for qualitative and quantitative analysis of aragonite-group carbonates. This simple, fast, and accurate technique requires no sample preparation and can serve as a rapid alternative to X-ray diffraction. The novel aspect of this work is the development of calibration curves for quantifying strontianite and witherite in aragonite mixtures using absorbance ratios between  peaks, reducing variability from measurement conditions.
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