Basic Properties of Starfish Derived Calcium Carbonate and Its Phase Transformation to Carbonate Apatite

摘要

Feasibility of starfish bone to be a source material for apatite bone substitute was investigated in the present study because starfish bone is known to be porous calcium carbonate. Starfish bone was assembly of Mg containing calcite granules. And the calcite granules had rally interconnected porous structure with approximately 20 μm of pore size. After the hydrothermal treatment of the calcite granules in NaH_2PO_4 aqueous solution, the granules were gradually transformed to apatite. Therefore, starfish derived calcium carbonate would be a candidate of a source material for carbonate apatite bone substitute.