Granules of Brushite and Octacalcium Phosphate from Marble

Brushite (DCPD, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, CaHPO(4)center dot 2H(2)O) and octacalcium phosphate (OCP, Ca(8)(HPO(4))(2) (PO(4))(4)center dot 5H(2)O) granules with millimeter sizes were prepared by using marble (calcium carbonate) granules as the starting material. The method of this study simply comprised of soaking the marble granules in aqueous solutions containing phosphate and/or calcium ions at temperatures between 20 degrees and 37 degrees C. This process did not cause any size change between the initial marble and final brushite or octacalcium phosphate granules. Such DCPD and OCP granules could be useful in maxillofacial, dental, and orthopedic void/bone defect filling and grafting applications. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.