Removal of Organic Materials from Mytilus Shells and Their Morphological and Chemical-Physical Characterisation
Alberto Ubaldini,
Flavio Cicconi,
Sara Calistri,
Stefano Salvi,
Chiara Telloli,
Giuseppe Marghella,
Alessandro Gessi,
Stefania Bruni,
Naomi Falsini,
Antonietta Rizzo
Affiliations
Alberto Ubaldini
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Bologna, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129 Bologna, Italy
Flavio Cicconi
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Brasimone, 40032 Camugnano, Italy
Sara Calistri
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Bologna, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129 Bologna, Italy
Stefano Salvi
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Brasimone, 40032 Camugnano, Italy
Chiara Telloli
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Bologna, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129 Bologna, Italy
Giuseppe Marghella
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Bologna, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129 Bologna, Italy
Alessandro Gessi
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Bologna, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129 Bologna, Italy
Stefania Bruni
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Bologna, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129 Bologna, Italy
Naomi Falsini
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Bologna, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129 Bologna, Italy
Antonietta Rizzo
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Bologna, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129 Bologna, Italy
A simple and effective method to eliminate the organic component from mussel shells is presented. It is based on the use of hot hydrogen peroxide. Mollusc shells are composite materials made of a calcium carbonate matrix with different polymorphs and numerous biomacromolecules. The described method was used on mussel shells, but it is generalisable and allows the complete removal of these organic components, without altering the inorganic part. Specimens were kept in a H2O2 40% bath for few hours at 70 °C. The organic layers found on the faces of the shells were peeled away in this way, and biomacromolecules were degraded and removed. Their fragments are soluble in aqueous solution. This easily permits the chemical-physical characterisation and the study of the microstructure. The quality of calcite and aragonite microcrystals of biogenic origin is very high, superior to that of materials of geological or synthetic origin. This may suggest various industrial applications for them. Calcium carbonate is a useful precursor for cements and other building materials, and the one obtained in this way is of excellent quality and high purity.