IPB Researchers Utilize Shell Waste for Health Product
Animal shells are an abundant waste in nature, but it has not yet had a commercial use. This waste comes from the consumption of meat from these animals. Shell waste can be utilized because it is rich in various minerals including calcium.
Currently, the community's need for hydroxyapatite biomaterials tends to increase especially in the field of medicine. This is due to the increase of fractures and tooth decay cases. Alternative search of biomaterials derived from natural materials began to be developed, so that the adverse effects do not occur. The natural materials are also affordable by the community.
Starting from this, Ajeng Suasti Astuti, a student from the Department of Aquatic Product Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural University (FPIK IPB), was motivated to conduct a research on the utilization of shell waste as a hydroxyapatite material. The research entitled 'Synthesis and Characterization of Hydroxyapatite from windowpane oyster (Placuna placenta), obtuse horn shell (Cerethidea obtusa), and horn snail (Telescopium sp.)' was conducted under the guidance of Dra. Ella Salamah, M.Si and Prof. Dr. Ir. Sri Purwaningsih, M.Si.
"One of the synthetic biomaterials being developed today is the hydroxyapatite bioceramic. The making of hydroxyapatite requires precursors as a source of calcium, thus, I try to use natural material as a source of calcium in the production of hydroxyapatite," said Ajeng.
The material used in this study was the shells of windowpane oyster, obtuse horn shell and horn snail. Ajeng reacted calcium in shell wastes with phosphate (H3PO4). The research methods were precipitation and multiple stirring. "Multiple stirring method was done by utilizing ultrasonic waves to maximize the formation process of hydroxyapatite," she explained. The results showed that the method of precipitation of multiple stirring was able to produce hydroxyapatite although it has not been pure yet. The hydroxyapatite phase was formed most on the sample of the obtuse horn shell. The highest level of calcium was found in hydroxyapatite from horn snail shells by 42.82 percent. "The highest level of calcium is not always directly proportional to the hydroxyapatite yield, as this depends on the synthesis and external factors during synthesis process," explained Ajeng.
The result of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis showed the hydroxyapatite morphology of shell wastes in the form of non-uniform granular with coarse surface. XRD analysis result showed that there were other phases of hydroxyapatite such as CaCO3 and Ca(OH)2.
According to Ajeng, the calcium content of the three samples were different and the highest belonged to horn snail. The hydroxyapatite of the windowpane oyster shells had the best characteristics. "This is because it has the lowest impurity, the particle size is smaller or in nano size, and its physical characteristic is the best one." Ajeng hopes that the results of this research can provide an alternative biomaterial of hydroxyapatite produced from shell wastes. "I also hope this research can be developed and applied further," she concluded. (TK)
