Synthesis and Characterization of Struvite-k Crystals by Agar Gel

Abstract

The phosphate mineral struvite is basically formed in urinary tracks and kidney. One of the analogous compounds of struvite is potassium magnesium phosphate hexahydrate (KMgPO4·6H2O), known as struvite-k crystal and found in animal urinary calculi. In the present investigation, struvite-k crystals were grown by single diffusion and double diffusion techniques in agar gelmedium. The grown crystals were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Optical microscopy and SEM exhibited the different morphologies. The FTIR spectra revealed the presence of water molecules, stretching and bending vibrations of phosphate (PO4) ions. However the powder XRD results from the crystalline nature. Elemental composition in the crystal was obtained by EDXA, while 36.89% weight loss of water molecules is observed in TGA study.