Microwave-assisted synthesis of high purity β-tricalcium phosphate crystalline powder from the waste of Green mussel shells (Perna canaliculus)

• A waste mussel shell was successfully converted to β-tricalcium phosphate.
• The prepared β-TCP has nanosized particles of 100–150 nm.
• The β-TCP can be used in fabrication of orthopedically biomaterials.

Beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-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 °C. The synthesized powder was chemically, compositionally and structurally characterized and was found to be very similar to a commercial β-TCP. Furthermore, the obtained powder was stable up to 1000 °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 β-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 β-TCP can be produced from waste mussel shells in a simple and fast way using microwave irradiation.

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