Characterization of a calcium phospho-silicated apatite with iron oxide inclusions

An iron oxide containing calcium phosphate–silicate hydroxyapatite was synthesized by calcination at 900 °C of a sample obtained by precipitation in basic aqueous solution of Ca, P, Si, Fe and Mg containing acidic solution made from dissolution of natural minerals. XRD and FTIR were used for crystallographic characterization of the main apatitic phase. Its composition was determined using ICP-AES. EDX coupled with SEM and TEM evidenced the heterogeneity of this compound and the existence of iron–magnesium oxide. Magnetic analyses highlighted that this phase was non-stoichiometric magnesioferrite (Mg1.2Fe1.8O3.9) spherical nanoparticles.Those analyses also put into evidence the role of calcination in synthesis. Carbonates detected by FTIR and estimated by SEM-EDX in non-calcinated sample were removed from apatitic structure, and crystallization of apatite was enhanced during heating. Moreover, there was phase segregation that led to magnesioferrite formation.