Preparation and structural characteristics of biphasic calcium phosphates from prawn shell bio-waste

ABSTRACT The major objective of the work is to explore the mechanical properties of biphasic calcium phosphates (BCP), a biomaterial derived from marine resources like prawn (Fenneropenaeus Indicus) shell biowaste through wet chemical treatment of CaO. We report the BCP, a mixture of hydroxyapatite and octa calcium phosphate from prawn shell biowaste using wet chemical synthesis at 80°C under pH 10. XRD of BCP revealed the coexistence of secondary phases like β-TCP and α-TCP along with HA upon sintering at different temperatures. Furthermore, the SEM and EDS opened well-sintered uniaxial grains and the presence of trace elements like Fe, Mg, Si, and Na. The specimens sintered at 1100°C showed the highest compression strength of 56.8 MPa due to MgO at the grain boundaries, which plays an important role in grain boundary diffusion. Therefore, the prawn shell biowaste-derived BCP has good mechanical properties, making them suitable materials for high-strength bone substitutes.