Synthesis and characterization of CaCo3/CaO from Achatina fulica in various sintering time

Abstract

Snail shell is an abundance of waste in Indonesia, particularly from snail or Achatina fulica snail. Snail shell has high calcium content; thus, it can be used as an alternative replacement for CaO/CaCO3. This research aimed to make CaCO and CaO from the Achatina fulica snail shell waste as the base material of hydroxyapatite. The synthesis process of CaO/ CaCO3 used the ball milling method for 6 hours in various sintering temperature of 850 °C, 950 °C, 1050 °C. The synthesised samples were then characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The XRD results showed the successful synthesis of snail shell waste into CaCO3 and CaO with the smallest particle size from each temperature variation were 17.60 nm, 30.16 nm, and 53.30 nm. The SEM images showed agglomeration and porosity in all samples. The EDX test results displayed the highest Ca (calcium) was found in the sample with 1050°C sintering temperature, and the highest O (oxygen) level was found in the sample with 850 °C sintering temperature. The FTIR test results presented the functional group transformation from CaCO3 into higher CaO along with the increase of the sintering temperature.