Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite Bioceramic from a Natural Waste Source: Bovine Bone

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University, New Damietta, Egypt

2 national research center

3 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

4 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University

Abstract

The escalating demand for sustainable biomaterials has driven research into valorizing natural waste sources. This study presents an eco-friendly synthesis route for producing nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (nHA) from bovine bone waste, a plentiful and underutilized byproduct. The process involved cleaning, drying, and calcining the bone at 1000C for 4 hours in ambient air, followed by ball milling to produce a fine powder. The synthesized bioceramic was thoroughly characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDAX). The results confirmed the formation of a highly crystalline, phase-pure hydroxyapatite with a carbonate substitution characteristic of bone-derived apatite. XRD analysis, supported by the Scherrer equation, and TEM imaging revealed a nanocrystalline structure with an average crystallite/particle size of ~30 nm and a spherical morphology. The Ca/P atomic ratio of 1.77, determined by EDAX, was close to the theoretical stoichiometric value for HA. This work demonstrates a simple, green method to transform biological waste into a high-value nanocrystalline bioceramic with superior properties, making it a promising candidate for advanced biomedical applications such as bone grafts, implants, and drug delivery systems.

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Mansoura Journal of Chemistry
Volume 68, Issue 4
December 2025
Pages 8-15

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