Convenient conversion of calcium carbonate to hydroxyapatite at ambient pressure

The synthesis of hydroxyapatite is described starting from calcium carbonate and monoammoniumphosphate in stoichiometric amounts. The novel aspect concerns the reaction conditions which are simple mixing in water at ambient pressure and 60 °C. The calcium carbonate solid phase slowly evolves CO₂ gas and buffers the solution at a pH value of 8.05 where hydroxyapatite precipitates. The main advantages of this reaction pathway are the absence of nitrate salts, the availability of the starting materials and the purity of the final product.