Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of calcium carbonate in eggshells using thermal analysis

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The eggshell of the hen is an important structure which provides protection for the developing chick, and also a container for the egg in the food industry. Egg breakage can reach up to 10% of total egg production, causing considerable economic losses. The eggshell consists of membranes, composed mainly of proteins, and the mineral shell composed mainly of the calcite polymorph of CaCO3. The average CaCO3 content of a chicken eggshell is between 93 and 97%, depending on animal genotype, age, housing system of laying hens and mineral nutrition. In the present study, eggs of the same breed and approximately same age were collected from four different production systems: organic farming, free-range production, deep litter system and battery cage system. The CaCO3 content was determined by the standard titration method and by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Thermal properties of dried eggshell powder were measured by thermogravimetric measurements between 30 and 900 °C in air, showing a significant mass loss of ≈ 43% between 600 and 850 °C corresponding to the decomposition of CaCO3 to CaO and CO2. The relations between the thermal mass loss and CaCO3 content determined by the titration method/atomic absorption spectroscopy were studied using predictive models fitted by the linear regression method. A good prediction ability with an average prediction error of 0.01% was obtained between CaCO3 determined by titration and the thermal mass loss, indicating that TG could provide a reliable method for evaluation of CaCO3 content in eggshells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lavelin I, Meiri N, Pines M. New insight in eggshell formation. Poult Sci. 2000;79:1014–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Arias JL, Fernandez MS. Role of extracellular matrix molecules in shell formation and structure. World’s Poult Sci J. 2001;57:349–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Nys Y, Gautron J, Garcia-Ruiz JM, Hinke MT. Avian eggshell mineralization: biochemical and functional characterization of matrix proteins. C R Palevol. 2004;3:549–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hunton P. Research on eggshell structure and quality: an historical overview. Brasil J Poult Sci. 2005;7:67–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ketta M, Tůmová E. Eggshell structure, measurements, and quality-affecting factors in laying hens: a review. Czech J Anim Sci. 2016;61:299–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Wistedt A. Shell formation and bone strength in laying hens. Doctoral thesis. Uppsala: Swedish University of Agricultural Scineces; 2013.

  7. Hincke MT, Nys Y, Gautron J, Mann K, Rodriguez-Navarro AB, McKee MD. The eggshell: structure, composition and mineralization. Front Biosci. 2012;17:1266–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Karcher DM, Mench JA. Overview of commercial poultry production systems and their main welfare challenges. In: Mench JA, editor. Advances in Poultry Welfare. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2018. p. 3–25.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Mugnai C, Dal Bosco A, Castellini C. Effect of rearing system and season on the performance and egg characteristics of Ancona laying hens. Ital J Anim Sci. 2010;8:175–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Küçükyılmaz K, Bozkurt M, Herken EN, Çınar M. Effects of rearing systems on performance, egg characteristics and immune response in two layer hen genotype. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci. 2012;25:559–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. King’ori AM. A review of the uses of poultry eggshells and shell membranes. Int J Poult Sci. 2011;10:908–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Flores-Cano JV, Leyva-Ramos R, Mendoza-Barron J, Guerrero-Coronado RM, Aragón-Piña A, Labrada-Delgado GJ. Sorption mechanism of Cd(II) from water solution onto chicken eggshell. Appl Surf Sci. 2013;276:682–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Adeyeye EI. Comparative study on the characteristics of egg shells of some bird species. Bull Soc Chem Ethiop. 2009;23:159–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mosaddegh E. Ultrasonic-assisted preparation of nano eggshell powder: a novel catalyst in green and high efficient synthesis of 2-aminochromenes. Ultrason Sonochem. 2013;20:1436–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bachir AMS, Mansumay Y. Characterization of raw egg shell powder (ESP) as a good bio-filler. J Eng Res Technol. 2015;2:56–60.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wei ZK, Xu CL, Li BX. Application of waste eggshell as low-cost solid catalyst for biodiesel production. Bioresour Technol. 2009;100:2883–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Tangboriboon N, Khongnakhon T, Kittikul S, Kunanuruksapong R, Sirivat A. An innovative CaSiO3 dielectric material from eggshells by sol-gel process. J Sol Gel Sci Technol. 2011;58:33–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hassan TA, Rangari VK, Jeelani S. Mechanical and thermal properties of bio-based CaCO3/soybean-based hybrid unsaturated polyester nanocomposites. J Appl Polym Sci. 2013;130:1442–52.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Hassen AA, Dizbay-Onati M, Bansdal D, Bayush T, Vaidya U. Utilization of chicken eggshell waste as a bio-filler for thermoplastic polymers: thermal and mechanical characterization of polypropylene filled with naturally derived CaCO3. Polym Polym Compos. 2015;23:653–62.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Ang BC, Ahmad N, Ong ZC, Cheok SC, Chan HF. Study of the mechanical and the thermal insulation properties of polyurethane coating containing chicken eggshell and rice husk ash as fillers. Pigm Resin Technol. 2016;45:313–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Amiri Roudan M, Ramesh S, Niakan A, Wong YH, Akhtari Zavareh M, Chandran H, Teng WD, Lwin N, Sutharsini U. Thermal phase stability and properties of hydroxyapatite derived from bio-waste eggshells. J Ceram Process Res. 2017;18:69–72.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Experiment of calcium carbonate composition of eggshells. https://www.ukessays.com/essays/chemistry/calcium-carbonate.php. Accessed 22 Nov 2018.

  23. Calcium carbonate content of eggshells. http://marric.us/files/HS_Chem_Egg_labpdf.pdf. Accessed 22 Nov 2018.

  24. Determination of calcium carbonate in eggshells by acid/base titration. http://www.markedbyteachers.com/as-and-a-level/science/determination-of-calcium-carbonate-in-eggshells-by-acid-base-titration.html. Accessed 22 Nov 2018.

  25. Lechtanski VL. Inquiry-based experiments in chemistry. New York: Oxford; 2000. p. 159–65.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Szeleszczuk L, Kuras M, Pisklak DM, Wawer I. Analysis of the changes in elemental composition of the cricken eggshell during the incubation period. J Anim Plant Sci. 2016;26:583–7.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kristl M, Muršec M, Šuštar V, Kristl J. Application of Thermogravimetric analysis for the evaluation of organic and inorganic carbon contents in agricultural soils. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2016;123:2139–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Mukarami FS, Rodrigues PO, De Campos CMT, Silva MAS. Physicochemical study of CaCO3 from egg shells. Ciênc Tecnol Aliment Campinas. 2007;27:658–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Naemchan K, Meejoo S, Onreabroy W, Limsuwan P. Temperature effect on chicken egg shell investigated by XRD TGA and FTIR. Adv Mater Res. 2008;55–57:333–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Perreira JG, Okumura F, Ramos LA, Cavalheiro ETG. Termogravimetria: um novo enfoque para a clássica determinação de cálcio em cascas de ovos. Quim Nova. 2009;32:1661–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Petkova V, Kostova B, Shopska M, Kadinov G, Baláž M, Baláž P. Behavior of high-energy-milling-activated eggshells during thermal treatment. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2017;127:615–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Tsuboi Y, Nobuyoshi K. Thermal decomposition of biomineralized calcium carbonate: correlation between the thermal behavior and structural characteristics of avian eggshell. ACS Sustain Chem Eng. 2018;6:5283–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Schaller K. Praktikum zur Bodenkunde und Pflanzenernährung. Geisenheim: Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Forschungsanstalt; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Kohavi R. A study of gross validation and bootstrap for estimation and model selection. In: Processing of the 14th international joint conference on artificial intelligence, vol. 2(12); 1995. pp. 1137–1143.

  35. R Core Team. R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing; 2017. https://www.R-project.org/.

  36. Maindonald JH, Braun WJ. DAAG: Data analysis and graphics data and functions. R package version 1.22; 2015. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=DAAG.

  37. Leeson S, Summers JD. Commercial poultry nutrition. 3rd ed. Nottingham: University Press; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Jeroch H. Recommendations for energy and nutrients of layers: a critical review. Lohmann Inf. 2011;46(2):61–72.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia

    Matjaž Kristl, Sabina Jurak & Maksimilijan Brus

  2. Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311, Hoče, Slovenia

    Vilma Sem & Janja Kristl

Authors
  1. Matjaž Kristl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sabina Jurak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maksimilijan Brus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vilma Sem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Janja Kristl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matjaž Kristl.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kristl, M., Jurak, S., Brus, M. et al. Evaluation of calcium carbonate in eggshells using thermal analysis. J Therm Anal Calorim 138, 2751–2758 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-08678-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-08678-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation