Solubility of Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate by Solid Titration

Abstract

Solid-titration results for hydroxyapatite (HAp), octacalcium phosphate, β-tricalcium phosphate and tetracalcium phosphate have shown that the only stable phase in 100 mmol·l^-1 KCl at 37°C is HAp. In particular, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) did not form at pH <4.2 (where it is otherwise believed to be stable) except as a metastable phase under conditions of slight supersaturation. The behaviour of DCPD itself under the same conditions requires checking. Solid titration was used to determine the apparent solubility of DCPD in a 100-mmol·l^–1 KCl solution at 37.0 ± 0.1°C over the pH range 3.2–11.6. The constitution of the precipitate was determined by X-ray diffraction, particle morphology was observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and the precipitate Ca/P ratio was calculated by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The titration curve for DCPD was substantially lower than the position reported elsewhere. DCPD was the only identified phase at equilibrium at pH 3.60 and 4.50, but HAp was formed after seeding with 1 mg HAp at DCPD equilibrium at pH 4.47, 3.60 and 3.30. It is concluded that the titration curve observed for DCPD corresponds to the solubility isotherm for the phase, but that this represents a metastable equilibrium. HAp is more stable than DCPD, particularly below pH 4.2. The implications for calcium phosphate studies are profound as the reverse is generally believed to be true. Thus, solubility results and the nature of the carious lesion need reconsideration.