La ions in precipitated hydroxyapatites.
Hydroxyapatites were synthesized by precipitation from an aqueous solution with La3+ (0-0.75%) and with carbonate (0-6.1%) at controlled pH 7.0. Uptake of La3+ was 90-95% complete. Relatively low Ca/P (1.54-1.63) ratios were attributed to nonstoichiometry. Carbonate in samples was identified by IR spectroscopy as B-type carbonate. Lattice parameters of the hexagonal apatite structure were not affected by the La3+ content. Noncarbonated samples heated to 800 degrees C transform partially to beta-Ca3(PO4)2. Thermogravimetric analysis showed release of 0.4 mol adsorbed and 1 mol crystalline water up to 400 degrees C and decomposition of carbonate up to 900 degrees C in the samples. Luminescence data obtained for Gd-containing hydroxyapatites prove that Gd3+ ions are not incorporated in the precipitated hydroxyapatite. These findings suggest that, in the La-containing samples, La3+ is surface absorbed and not incorporated in hydroxyapatite.