Microparticles of calcium carbonate CaCO3, calcium hydrogen phosphate hydrate CaHPO41.9H2O and tricalcium phosphate Ca3(PO4)2 prepared from golden apple snail shells (Pomacea canaliculata)

The golden apple snail shell was mechanically milled to transform to 400 mesh sizes of calcium carbonate CaCO3. The obtained CaCO3 was reacted with phosphoric acid by a simple rapid reaction to prepare dicalcium phosphate hydrate CaHPO4^.1.9H2O. Thermal transformation products of the as-synthesized CaCO3 and CaHPO4^.1.9H2O samples occurred at above 750 ^oC indicating the temperature condition to synthesize tricalcium phosphate Ca3(PO4)2 by solid state route. The as-synthesized CaCO3 and CaHPO4 powders were well mixed in the mole ratio of 1:2, then calcined at 800 ^oC for 2 hrs. and the obtained product was Ca3(PO4)2. The XRD and FTIR results indicate that the as-prepared CaCO3, CaHPO4 and Ca3(PO4)2 samples without the presence of any phase impurities crystalize in orthorhombic of aragonite, anorthic, rhombohedral phases respectively, The SEM micrographs show nonuniform, wooden fiber-like, grainy rice-like and irregular and non-uniform shapes for the as-prepared CaCO3, CaHPO4 and Ca3(PO4)2 samples respectively.