• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.330-336
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• 1999

In biological systems, the mineral that forms hard tissue is of an apatitic nature, and hydroxyapatite($Ca_5OH(PO_4)_3$: HA) is generally considered as the prototype for such a mineral. Thus, the precipitation of HA, having biological implications, has been the subject of several investigations. Crystal growth studies using HA seeds in supersaturated solutions have enhanced our understanding of the process and mechanism involved in seeded crystal growth. From these studies, it has become apparent that the precipitation rate of HA onto the seed crystals depends on the various conditions, especially on the additives. The relation between the supersaturated solution containing fluoride and the process of HA crystal growth enhances the understanding of mechanism of HA crystal growth. Until recently, the studies have been on the crystal growth of enamel minerals and synthetic HA seeds in the supersaturated solution containing 1~2 ppm fluoride. The purpose of the present investigation is to study the effect that fluoride of high concentration has on the crystal growth kinetics of HA. In order to produce the composition found in the secretory enamel fluid, experimental solutions of 1mM Ca, 3mM P, and 100mM Tris as background electrolyte were used. Then this experimental solutions were added to 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 ppm fluoride. The effect of fluoride at high concentrations on the precipitation was examined in a bench-top crystal growth model adopting a miniaturized reaction column. Chemical analysis was employed for characterization of working solutions before and after the experimentation. Remarkable findings were : 1) the amount of crystal growth was gradually accelerated as the fluoride concentration increased until 6 ppm, but decreased in 8 and 10 ppm fluoride; 2) the amount of fluoride ion consumed in crystal formation was constant despite the increase in fluoride concentration.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.28-39
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• 2016

Struvite (MgNH₄PO₄ ⋅ 6H₂O) and hydroxyapatite (HAP, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) precipitation in urine-separating toilets (NoMix toilets) causes severe maintenance problems and also reduce the phosphate and calcium content. Application of urine separating technique and extraction of by-products from human urine is a cost effective technique in waste water treatment. In this study, we extract urine calcite from human urine by batch scale method, using urease producing microbes to trigger the precipitation and calcite formation process. Extracted urine calcite (calcining at 800℃) is a potential adsorbent for removal of heavy metal(loid)s like (Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ and As³⁺) along with additional leaching analysis of total nitrogen (T-N), phosphate (T-P) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The transformations of calcite during synthesis were confirm by characterization using XRD, SEM-EDAX and FT-IR techniques. In additional, the phosphate leaching potential and adsorbate (nitrate) efficiency in aqueous solution was investigated using the calcinedurine calcite. The results indicate that the calcite was effectively remove heavy metal(loid)s lead up to 96.8%. In addition, the adsorption capacity (q_e) of calcite was calculated and it was found to be 203.64 Pb, 110.96 Cd, 96.02 Zn, 104.2 As, 149.54 Cu and 162.68 Ni mg/g, respectively. Hence, we suggest that the calcite obtain from the human urine will be a suitable absorbent for heavy metal(loid)s removal from aqueous solution.