Extraction of natural hydroxyapatite from tilapia fish scales using alkaline treatment

Abstract

Abstract Fish scales have been the best alternatives source of hydroxyapatite (HAp) due to low manufacturing cost and safety issues. Low cost and fast extraction method has been explored including alkaline treatment. This study presents the extraction of natural HAp from Tilapia fish scales using alkaline treatment. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with concentration of 5 M was chosen to extract HAp from fish scales. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were used to confirm the structure of fish scales HAp (FsHAp) produced from the fish scale. The morphology of the FsHAp obtained was analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with transmission mode (STEM). The STEM analysis reveals the ultrafine nanoparticles of FsHAp with diameter around 20-30 nm. Sintering of FsHAp at 1200 oC produced highly crystalline FsHA with Ca/P ratio was 1.83 as determined by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The XRD results verified the structure of sintered FsHAp with the presence of secondary phase was known as beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). The nano FsHAp have a potential to be used as material for biomedical applications.