A Simple Method to Evaluate the Purity of Synthetic Hydroxyapatite Granules

Using a method based on the spectrophotometric analysis of the liquids remaining after washing ceramic granules, the type of impurity was determined, the wavelength for measuring the impurity was established, and the type of cuvette (polystyrene or quartz) was analyzed. The absorbance of the samples was measured at wavelengths between 190 and 1100 nm. The results showed that both cuvette types are useful; however, the greatest absorbances were detected using quartz ones at low wavelengths around 190 nm. The comparison of absorption spectra from the samples, centrifuged and noncentrifuged, enabled us to define the impurities as small apatite particles.