Photoinduced crystallization of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was demonstrated by the phoLoclecarboxylation of ketoprofen (KR 2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid) under alkaline conditions (pH 10). In this method, a homogeneous solution comprising KR calcium chloride, ammonia, and partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA(PS), degree of saponification: 86.5-89.0 mol %) was used as the precursor solution and was exposed to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for different time periods. Thermogravimetric analysis of the obtained xerogels showed that increasing the UV irradiation time increased the amount of CaCO3 formed and the complete conversion of calcium ions to calcite was achieved after 50 no of UV irradiation. Furthermore, solid phase analyses suggested that nanometer-to-micron-sized calcite crystals were formed and dispersed in the obtained PVA(PS) matrix. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.