Insert Figure 2.3 Synthesis of non-template hydroxyapatite Hydroxyapatite was synthesized using a simple chemical precipitation method previously described by Abidi and Murtaza . First, 3.899 g of 95% P.A. Ca(OH)2 was added to 100 mL of distilled water and stirred continuously for 24 h. Then, 2.0 mL of 85% P.A. H3PO4 in 100 mL of distilled water was gradually added at a predetermined rate using a syringe pump to maintain the characteristic 1.67 Ca/P molar ratio of hydroxyapatite. Three variables were examined in a statistical 2 3 factorial design: reaction temperature (room temperature, 50 °C, and 75 °C), reaction drip rate (0.5 mL/min, 1.0 mL/min, and 1.5 mL/min), and the amount of template (0 g, 1.20 g, and 2.40 g).