Surface Studies of Calcium Oxalate Dihydrate Single Crystals During Dissolution in the Presence of Stone-Formers\u27 Urine

Dissolution of calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) single crystals was studied at different pH levels and in different dilutions of stone formers\u27 (SF) urine. The Fourier descriptors of the contour were determined during dissolution of COD using a quantitative morphological technique. The surface ruggedness of COD single crystals was determined from fractal analysis. The results obtained were compared with COD single crystals behavior in different dilutions of normal urine previously reported. The shape parameters and surface geometry of the dissolving COD crystals were significantly different in normal and SF urine. The data suggest that the shape descriptors and fractal geometry is likely to be a potential factor in identifying the urine of stone formers