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Modeling Tetragonal Lysozyme Crystal Growth RatesTetragonal lysozyme 110 face crystal growth rates, measured over 5 orders of magnitude in range, can be described using a model where growth occurs by 2D nucleation on the crystal surface for solution supersaturations of c/c(sub eq) less than or equal to 7 +/- 2. Based upon the model, the step energy per unit length, beta was estimated to be approx. 5.3 +/- 0.4 x 10(exp -7) erg/mol-cm, which for a step height of 56 A corresponds to barrier of approx. 7 +/- 1 k(sub B)T at 300 K. For supersaturations of c/c(sub eq) > 8, the model emphasizing crystal growth by 2D nucleation not only could not predict, but also consistently overestimated, the highest observable crystal growth rates. Kinetic roughening is hypothesized to occur at a cross-over supersaturation of c/c(sub eq) > 8, where crystal growth is postulated to occur by a different process such as adsorption. Under this assumption, all growth rate data indicated that a kinetic roughening transition and subsequent crystal growth by adsorption for all solution conditions, varying in buffer pH, temperature and precipitant concentration, occurs for c/c(sub eq)(T, pH, NaCl) in the range between 5 and 10, with an energy barrier for adsorption estimated to be approx. 20 k(sub B)T at 300 K. Based upon these and other estimates, we determined the size of the critical surface nucleate, at the crossover supersaturation and higher concentrations, to range from 4 to 10 molecules.
Document ID
20030065661
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Abstract
Authors
Gorti, Sridhar
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Forsythe, Elizabeth L.
(Universities Space Research Association Huntsville, AL, United States)
Pusey, Marc L.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Nonmetallic Materials
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Crystallographic Association (ACA) Meeting
Location: Covington, KY
Country: United States
Start Date: July 26, 2003
End Date: July 30, 2003
Sponsors: American Crystallographic Association
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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