Inhibition of calcium oxalate crystallization by glutamic acid: Different effects at low and high concentrations

Reuven Azoury*, Alan D. Randolph, George W. Drach, Saul Perlberg, Nissim Garti, Sara Sarig

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effects of L-aspartic acid, alanine and L-glutamic acid on the crystallization of calcium oxalate were followed by two methods: measurements of the changes in calcium ion concentrations and determination of crystal size distribution in the calcium oxalate precipitate. The changes in calcium ion concentration were detected by a specific calcium electrode and are expressed as Discriminating Index (DI) values. Median size and number of crystals per milliliter were determined by Particle Data Counter. Glutamic acid in the range of 0-200 ppm was added to solutions of CaCl2 which were subsequently mixed with solutions of Na2C2O4 to yield CaC2O4 precipitation. At relatively high concentrations of glutamic acid, namely 20-200 ppm, the precipitation of calcium oxalate is retarded. However, at low concentrations, 2.5-20 ppm oxalate precipitation is enhanced. The two independent methods yield well-correlated results. Both L-aspartic acid and alanine did not affect the precipitation of calcium oxalate at similar experimental conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)389-392
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Crystal Growth
Volume64
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1983

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Inhibition of calcium oxalate crystallization by glutamic acid: Different effects at low and high concentrations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this