Eggshell waste as a sustainable resource for nanoparticle preparation; synthesis, characterization and applications

Abstract

There has been substantial interest in using eggshell waste for the creation of environmentally-friendly products. This review discusses on the synthesis and examination of nanoparticles obtained from eggshells, with a particular focus on their suitability for usage in environmental and catalytic settings. Calcination and mechanical grinding are acknowledged as effective techniques for generating eggshell nanoparticles. Calcination is a high-temperature process that converts calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) into calcium oxide (CaO). On the other hand, mechanical grinding is a method used to decrease the size of particles to the nanoscale. The text examines different methods employed for characterization, such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for evaluating thermal stability, zeta potential for assessing surface charge and stability, X-ray diffraction (XRD) for identifying crystal structure, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for detecting functional groups, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy for determining elemental composition, dynamic light scattering (DLS) for analyzing particle size distribution, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) for visualizing surface morphology. The produced nano-hydroxyapatite shows promise as an adsorbent for effectively eliminating arsenic and heavy metals from water systems, hence contributing to sustainable waste management and advancements in materials. This work offers a thorough comprehension of the procedure involved in producing and examining eggshell nanoparticles. Acquiring this information is crucial for effectively utilizing them in environmental remediation and catalytic processes.