Synthesis and characterization of nano-Plaster of Paris from Babylonia japonica, Oliva sayana, and Conasprella bermudensis

Abstract

In this study, Plaster of Paris (POP, CaSO₄.0.5H₂O) was successfully synthesized from the shells of marine mollusks, specifically Conasprella bermudensis, Babylonia japonica, and Oliva sayana, highlighting the potential of utilizing marine resources for material production. The synthesis process was accelerated through a chemical reaction between the mollusk shells and sulfuric acid, which provided calcium and sulfate ions, respectively. Various model equations were employed to assess the crystallite size, which was less than 200 nm; notably, all models except the Halder-Wagner technique yielded significant estimations for the synthesized products. The calculated energy density ranged from 1.32×10² to 2.38×10³ J/m³, with stress values between 5.02×10⁵ and 2×10⁶ and strain values from 5×10⁻⁴ to 1.7×10⁻³. The preferred growth calculation indicated that the (200), (400), and (020) planes are the most thermodynamically stable for the synthesized POP. Additionally, FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of sulfate and hydroxyl functional groups in the products. This research advances the understanding of nano-Plaster of Paris (POP) derived from marine sources, promotes sustainable practices in material synthesis, and explores new applications in construction and biomedical fields.