Comparison of methods for obtaining a hydroxyapatite and zinc oxide composite (HAp/ZnO)

In this work, the synthesis of a composite material based on hydroxyapatite (HAp) and zinc oxide (ZnO) is reported. Two types of synthesis were evaluated, in order to know which of them allows to obtain a homogeneous composite material of HAp and ZnO, since making a composite material implies that two or more compounds must be integrated and do not separated; the HAp will be obtained from eggshell residue, ZnO will be synthesized by Sol-Gel and electrolysis; in the ZnO obtention, the previously synthesized HAp was incorporated and it is followed by a thermal treatment obtain the oxide. To evaluated the incorporation of ZnO with hydroxyapatite, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Elemental Analysis and Mapping by Energy Dispersive Spectrometry, Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis and X-ray Diffraction were performed. These two synthesis methods are aiming to obtain a homogeneous material, establishing a methodology to produce the material composite, as well as improve the photocatalytic properties.