Physicochemical Comparison of Hydroxyapatite Extracted from Adult and Young Duroc-Jersey Porcine Bones: Influence of Predominant Ionic Composition on Enhanced Potential Applications

Abstract

Biogenic hydroxyapatite (BHA) exhibits physicochemical variability associated with donor-dependent factors. BHA extracted from young and adult Duroc-Jersey porcine bones was systematically compared, with a focus on predominant substitutional ions and crystallite size. BHA powders were obtained by controlled thermal treatment. Thermal analysis by TGA and DSC revealed age-dependent differences in thermal stability and coalescence behavior related to variations in organic content and carbonate species. ICP-OES showed nonstoichiometric compositions with Ca/P ratios and trace-element concentrations, particularly silicon-containing species, which differed significantly between the samples investigated. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of AB-type carbonated hydroxyapatite and silicate substitutions. HR-TEM revealed crystallite sizes within the transition range between nanometric and micrometric regimes (60–100 nm). XRD showed lattice distortions consistent with multi-ionic substitution. These results suggest that differences in ionic composition between the young- and adult-derived samples are associated with variations in structural organization and thermal behavior.