Determination of Egg Shell Structure and Mineral Composition Using <i>SEM-EDS</i> and Identification the Possibility to Produce Fertilizer

Abstract

Throwing out egg shells without using them depreciates a vital source of calcium. As an egg shell contains twice the amount of calcium a person needs a day, it is considered as the richest source of calcium of natural origin. Egg shells have been traditionally and widely used in medicine, beauty science and food production for decades. In spite of that, there is a lack of new solutions that profoundly study mineral elements and beneficial components contained in egg shells for further usage as a product. Assuming we consume 2 eggs a day, the yearly consumption for a person is 730 eggs. As beneficial component, the egg shell structure and mineral elements, were determined in 3 types of samples (Mongolian eggs, Russian eggs, and iodized eggs) by SEM-EDS (Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy), a state-of-the-art research method. Consequently, it was established that egg shells consists of Ca (72.6% - 85.7%), Mg (2.7% - 4.5%), Si (0.3% - 0.6%), P (7.0% - 18.1%), S (0.5% - 2.0%), K (0.4% - 0.9%), I (2.6% - 3.0%), respectively. Additionally, the D3.8 × 120, 250, 500, and 1000 times zoomed images of shell structure (SEM) of each sample were examined, and the results were compared and evaluated. The reverse titration method examination has demonstrated that the calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) content in egg shells is 91% - 92.5%, and pH is 8.41 - 8.75. Ultimately, fertilizer containing 97.7% Ca without chemical additives has been extracted by grounding the eggshells to 4.4 μm, then preparing the mixture at the rate of 20:0.5 (shell: mix, enriched with mandarin and lemon peel) and adjusting its pH to 7.5 - 8.0. Further research on the impact of fertilizer on growing process of indoor flowers has been commenced.