A novel method for the synthesis of calcium carbonate (aragonite) nanoparticles from cockle shells

We report a simple, novel and low-cost method for the synthesis of aragonite nanoparticles from cockle shells. Aragonite is one of the least abundant biogenic polymorphs of calcium carbonate and is widely used as a biomaterial for the repair of fractured bone, development of advanced drug delivery systems, and tissue scaffolds. The method involves a simple mechanical grinding of the micron-sized cockle shell powders in the presence of a non-toxic and non-hazardous biomineralization catalyst, dodecyl dimethyl betaine (BS-12). The method produces rod-shaped aragonite particles with a diameter of 20 +/- 5 nm with good reproducibility and without any additional impurities. This was confirmed by a combined analysis of variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (VPSEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray analyser (EDX). The method should find potential applications in industry for the large scale synthesis of aragonite nanoparticles from a low cost but abundant natural resource such as cockle shells. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.