Synthesis of hydroxyapatite from eggshell powders through ball milling and heat treatment

• HA synthesis from eggshell powder by ball milling and heat treatment was presented.
• Pure HA was obtained after ball milling for 10 h and sintering at 1000 °C for 1 h.
• The product was carbonated HA and contained trace elements, Mg and Sr.

Every day, several million tons of eggshells are being generated as bio-waste across the world. This study demonstrates the synthesis of HA powder using dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (CaHPO4·2H2O, DCPD) and eggshell powders via ball milling and subsequent heat treatment. The formation of HA phase can be initiated by sintering the 1 h milled sample at 1000 °C for 1 h, while pure HA phase can be obtained upon sintering the 10 h milled sample. Additionally, the final products composed of biphasic calcium phosphate (HA + β-TCP crystals) can easily be prepared by ball milling for 5 h followed by heat treatment at 1000 °C for 1 h. The carbonate peaks observed in the FTIR analysis of the as-prepared HA closely matched those of A- and B-type carbonates, which is typical of the biological apatite. The elemental composition of the as-synthesized HA showed the presence of Ca, P, Mg, and Sr.