Vapor phase adsorption of water on hydroxyapatite.

Water vapor adsorption isotherms were determined gravimetrically on three hydroxyapatite sampel differing in preparation and with surface areas of 70.4, 22.5, and 3.0 M2/gm, respectively. Heats of adsorption for the first layer of water were found to be 13.3, 13.2, and 13.9 kcal/mole on these hydroxypatites. From repeated thermal desorption and adsorption cycles of water, stepwise adsorption was observed which diminished with each outgassing cycle until it disappeared after the fourth cycle. Cross-sectional area of adsorbed water molecule on hydroxyapatite surface was estimated at 11.5 A2. Standard free energies, isosteric heats, changes in enthalpy, and entropy of adsorption of water on HAP samples outgassed at 300 C were determined.