Abstract
Beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) was successfully synthesized using the waste of Green mussel shells, Perna canaliculus. Calcined mussel shells and phosphoric acid were mixed in 1.5 Ca/P molar ratio and subjected to microwave irradiation (1100 W) for 30 min and subsequently calcined at 750 degrees C The synthesized powder was chemically, compositionally and structurally characterized and was found to be very similar to a commercial beta-TCP. Furthermore, the obtained powder was stable up to 1000 degrees C and lost only 2% of its weight. Its toxic metallic contents (e.g. Cd, Pb and As) were lower than standard limits for biogenic calcium phosphate for medical application. The synthesized beta-TCP powder shows spherical morphology having diameter in the range of 100-150 nm and Ca/P molar ratio of 1.49, which is close to the stoichiometric ratio. The results obtained in this study showed that pure beta-TCP can be produced from waste mussel shells in a simple and fast way using microwave irradiation. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.