Papers by Author: Regina Kijkowska

Abstract: Fluoride, when incorporated in the apatite, stabilizes the structure. The purpose of this study was to determine the consequences of fluoride (F) substitution on the physico-chemical properties of apatites. F-containing apatites were prepared by precipitation or by hydrolysis of CaHPO4 in solutions containing different F concentrations and characterized using x-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry and chemical analyses. Results showed that F incorporation have the following effects: (a) decrease in a-axis dimension, (b) increase in crystal size and thickness, (c) decrease in calcium deficiency, and (d) lower solubility.

Abstract: Lanthanide phosphates are known as slightly soluble salts with their solubility products ranging from 10-25 to 10-27. These phosphates can be obtained a) by precipitation from aqueous solutions of their salts using, for example, sodium or ammonium phosphates or b) by crystallization from boiling phosphoric acid solution. Application of crystallization in highly acidic solution instead of precipitation method yields highly crystalline solids of the composition of LnPO4.H2O (Ln: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Y). This paper presents the effect of the acidity of the solution used for the crystallization process on crystallinity and morphology of EuPO4.H2O obtained: the higher the acidity of the solution the larger the crystals obtained. The morphology of the crystals changed from sphere-like particles crystallized in 2M H3PO4 to large hexagonal rods formed 2M H3PO4 with additional 0.4 M of HCl or HNO3.

Abstract: Our earlier studies showed that several ions inhibit the crystal growth of apatite and promote the formation of amorphous calcium phosphates (ACP). These ions include: magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), stannous (Sn), ferrous (Fe), carbonate (CO3), pyrophosphate (P2O7). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of combination of these ions (e.g., Mg & CO3, Mg & P2O7, Mg & Zn, etc) on the formation and stability of ACP. ACP compounds containing the different ions were prepared at 25 and 37oC according to the method we previously described. Chemical stability was investigated by suspending the different ACP preparations in solutions with or without inhibitory ions. Thermal stability was determined by sintering the ACP at different temperatures. Dissolution properties were determined in acidic buffer. The ACP before and after chemical or thermal treatment were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry. Results showed synergistic effects of inhibitory ions on the formation of ACP. ACP materials, regardless of their composition, remained amorphous even after heat treatment at 400oC. Transformation of ACP to other calcium phosphate phases depended on the pH and on the solution composition.