Calcium oxide nanoparticles from waste chicken eggshells as a fertilizer in agriculture

Abstract

In recent years, the use of nano fertilizers has gained significant interest due to their distinct physicochemical characteristics that enhance plant growth and productivity. There is a growing recognition in the importance of efficiently utilizing waste materials as society increasingly prioritizes waste reduction and sustainable resource management, which present opportunities to extract valuable resources and minimize environmental impact. The extraction of nano CaO from waste eggshells for agricultural applications represents an intersection of nanotechnology, agricultural innovation, and sustainable development. The synthesis of CaO nanoparticles was achieved through grinding and thermal decomposition processes. The synthesized nano CaO under optimized process parameters was analyzed using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Diffractometry (XRD). The highest CaO yield of 97.22% resulted from the optimized extraction process of wet mill grinding for 1 hour and calcination at 900 °C for 3 hours. The feasibility of the synthesized powder as a calcium-rich fertilizer was assessed through seed priming and soil pH tests. Our study reveals a remarkable potential of synthesized nano CaO as a calcium-rich fertilizer for robust seedling growth, plant vitality, and effective pH compensation in acidic soils, paving the way for more sustainable and productive agriculture.