Accuracy of Thermodynamic Databases for Hydroxyapatite Dissolution Constant

Discrepancies have been noted in the solubility constant values of calcium phosphate minerals between various databases employed in widely used aqueous speciation calculation software programs. This can cause serious errors in the calculated speciation of waters when using these software programs. The aim of this communication was to bring to light these discrepancies. Experimental determinations of the hydroxyapatite (HAP) solubility product vary by as much as 10 orders of magnitude as a result of experimental challenges related to the presence of impurities in the HAP used, incongruent dissolution, and the contamination of solutions with dissolved carbon dioxide. It is suggested that the value used in the database Thermo.dat is consistent with experimental data devoid of common experimental problems, whereas other common databases use values that lead to a vastly overestimated solubility of HAP.