Chemical Synthesis of Calcium Phosphates Derived from Crab Shells and Phosphoric Acid: An Examination of Crystal Structure and Biodegradability Features

Abstract Calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics are utilised extensively in tissue and bone engineering due to their biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, and osteoinductivity. Utilizing calcium derived from calcined powdered crab shells as a precursor is an attractive approach for creating CaP products that exhibit bioactivity and affinity with human tissues. This study explored the synthesis of CaP bioceramics using chemical precipitation and biogenic methods. The process involved mixing calcium resources obtained from calcined crab shell powder with phosphoric acid in a magnetic stirrer at room temperature for various stirring times. The synthesized CaP phases were analyzed using three techniques: X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD results confirmed the formation of crystalline CaP products, revealing mineralogical phase compositions of brushite, monetite, and hydroxyapatite in different proportions. SEM analysis showed the distinct morphologies of the CaP crystals. Additionally, biodegradability tests indicated a weight loss of 15%–24%, suggesting that a significant amount of degradable brushite may have formed in the bioceramic product during the 16‐h stirring period. Overall, the experimental synthesis methods outlined in this study provide valuable insights into the production of biodegradable calcium phosphate (CaP) products using recyclable biogenic calcium sources, with promising potential for biomedical applications.