Characterization of Pigboneash and hamburger seed shell Wastes from Umuahia,Abia State, Nigeria

Pig bone ash and hamburger seed shell are agricultural wastes which are not properly disposed.This study characterized pig bone ash and hamburger seed shell sourced from Umuahia to find out its micro structural, chemical and physical composition.Methods employed in the study were Ultraviolet Radiation Analysis (UVR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy -Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy Analysis (SEM-EDX).UVR analysis showed that the agricultural wastes have good absorbance values.FTIR results presented strong Carboxylic acids and alkynes in the agricultural wastes.XRD analysis results indicated the presence of Quartz, Sylvite, Orthoclase and illite in the agricultural wastes.The SEM analysis revealed a hollow and porous structures for the pig bone ash and hamburger seed shell.These elements O, C, K, mg, P and Si were contained in the agricultural wastes from the EDX analysis.The presence of valuable elements and functional groups in these agricultural wastes makes them suitable for Industrial application especially as fillers/reinforcements in plastics, ceramics and composites.