Journal of Environmental Biology

Physico-chemical characteristics and thermal stability of calcium oxalate crystals isolated from Beta vulgaris root

Paper received: 30.10.2018???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Revised received: 06.03.2019????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Accepted: 16.03.2019

Authors Info

S. Subashini and

K. Sathishkumar*

Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering,

Kalavakkam ? 603 110, India

*Corresponding Author Email :

sathishkumark@ssn.edu.in

Abstract

Aim: Beta vulgaris is an edible plant whose roots and leaves are consumed. Beta vulgaris contain both water soluble and insoluble oxalates. In the present study calcium oxalate crystals were isolated from Beta vulgaris root.    

Methodology: Physico-chemical characteristics and thermal stability of isolated crystals were analyzed using various spectroscopic and microscopic methods such as SEM, TEM, FT-IR, NMR, TGA and DSC.    

Results: The crystalline structure was confirmed by X-Ray Diffraction analysis with a 2θ value of 20^?. Functional groups observed in FTIR and 1H-NMR spectrum confirmed the presence of calcium oxalate in Beta vulgaris root isolate. The presence of calcium with sharp peaks at 0.3 and 3.68 keV was confirmed using EDS analysis. The size of calcium oxalate crystals in Beta vulgaris root isolate was found within 100 nm by TEM with SAED. Thermal stability of calcium oxalate crystals was found in the range of 150 to 200?C using TGA and DSC.    

Interpretation: Calcium oxalate crystals in Beta vulgaris are water insoluble and thermally stable.

Key words: Beta vulgaris, Biogenic crystals, Calcium oxalate, Thermal stability

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