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Effect of the Proportion of Organic Material in Bone on Thermal Decomposition of Bone Mineral: An Investigation of a Variety of Bones from Different Species Using Thermogravimetric Analysis coupled to Mass Spectrometry, High-Temperature X-ray Diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

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Abstract

Thermogravimetric analysis linked to mass spectrometry (TGA-MS) shows changes in mass and identifies gases evolved when a material is heated. Heating to 600°C enabled samples of bone to be classified as having a high (cod clythrum, deer antler, and whale periotic fin bone) or a low (porpoise ear bone, whale tympanic bulla, and whale ear bone) proportion of organic material. At higher temperatures, the mineral phase of the bone decomposed. High temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) showed that the main solids produced by decomposition of mineral (in air or argon at 800°C to 1000°C) were β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HAP), in deer antler, and CaO and HAP, in whale tympanic bulla. In carbon dioxide, the decomposition was retarded, indicating that the changes observed in air and argon were a result of the loss of carbonate ions from the mineral. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of bones heated to different temperatures, showed that loss of carbon dioxide (as a result of decomposition of carbonate ions) was accompanied by the appearance of hydroxide ions. These results can be explained if the structure of bone mineral is represented by

$$ {\text{Ca}}_{{\text{10}} - {\text{x}}} {\text{V}}^{{\text{(Ca)}}} _{\text{x}} [({\text{PO}}_{\text{4}} )_{{\text{6}} - {\text{x}} - {\text{y}}} ({\text{HPO}}_{\text{4}} )_{\text{x}} ({\text{CO}}_{\text{3}} )_{\text{y}} ][({\text{OH}})_{{\text{2}} - {\text{x}} - {\text{y}}} ({\text{CO}}_{\text{3}} )_{\text{y}} {\text{V}}^{{\text{(OH)}}} _{\text{x}} ] $$

where V(Ca) and V(OH) correspond to vacancies on the calcium and hydroxide sites, respectively, and 2−x−y = 0.4. This general formula is consistent in describing both mature bone mineral (i.e., whale bone), with a high Ca/P molar ratio, lower HPO 2−4 content, and higher CO 2−3 content, and immature bone mineral (i.e., deer antler), with a low Ca/P ratio, higher HPO 2−4 , and lower CO 2−3 content.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. S. Lees and Dr. S. D. Mehta for the gift of the bones used in this study. Financial support was provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UK). R.M.A. was supported by a Medical Research Council Senior Fellowship.

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Author notes

  1. L. D. Mkukuma

    Present address: Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, P.O. Box 95, Blantyre, Malawi

  2. D. W. L. Hukins

    Present address: School of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    L. D. Mkukuma & R. M. Aspden

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB243UE, UK

    J. M. S. Skakle & C. T. Imrie

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    I. R. Gibson

  4. Department of Bio-Medical Physics & Bio-Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    D. W. L. Hukins

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Correspondence to D. W. L. Hukins.

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Mkukuma, L.D., Skakle, J.M.S., Gibson, I.R. et al. Effect of the Proportion of Organic Material in Bone on Thermal Decomposition of Bone Mineral: An Investigation of a Variety of Bones from Different Species Using Thermogravimetric Analysis coupled to Mass Spectrometry, High-Temperature X-ray Diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Calcif Tissue Int 75, 321–328 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-004-0199-5

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