Abstract

• This research was focused on the preparation of dicalcium phosphate from waste clam shells (Mercenaria mercenaria) and utilization of prepared dicalcium phosphate for bone cement and toothpaste formulations. Waste clam shells were collected from seafood restaurant Chanayethazan Township, Mandalay Region. The clam shell powder (calcium carbonate) was prepared from waste clam shells by washing, grinding, sieving and drying. For the assessment of the quality of clam shell powder, physicochemical properties of clam shell powder (color, odor, solubility, density, moisture and calcium carbonate content) were investigated. The clam shell powder was decomposed to calcium oxide by calcination at 1000°C for 4 hr. Dicalcium phosphate (monetite) was prepared with 1 M phosphoric acid at 75˚C for 30 min with the stirring speed 500 rpm and 24 hr aging time. The phase, functional group, elemental compositions and morphological nature were determined to identify the purity of clam shell powder and prepared dicalcium phosphate. The prepared dicalcium phosphate was used in preparation of monetite bone cement and toothpaste formulation. A low compressive strength but very simple and inexpensive orthopedic monetite bone cement had 5 min initial setting time, 15 min final setting time and 2 to 3 MPa compressive strength. In the utilization of prepared dicalcium phosphate in toothpaste, the most suitable amount of processed dicalcium phosphate as abrasive for the preparation of toothpaste was 41%.