Comparative Calcium Carbonate Profiling of Avian Eggshells in Benue State, Nigeria: Analytical Benchmarking and a Circular Biogenic-Calcium Valorization Platform

Eggshell is a non-edible by-product with little saleable value and biologically active
compounds. Calcium carbonate is the major component of an eggshell and its analysis can be carried
out volumetrically by characteristic reaction of carbonate compounds with acids. The eggshells of five
different birds (local hen, hybrid hen, turkey, pigeon and duck were collected domestically and from
poultry farms in Gboko local government area of Benue State after hatching. The eggshells sample were
thoroughly washed with distilled water to remove any adhering membranes and organic matter, Air
dried, crushed and ground into fine powder stored in clean, airtight containers for further analysis. The
CaCO3 contents were determined volumetrically using back titration. The concentration of CaCO3 in
the eggshell followed the sequence hybrid hen > domestic duck > pigeon > turkey > local hen with
percentage composition of CaCO3 as 96.34 % ± 0.17, 95.97 % ±0.69, 91.38 % ±0.79, 87.45 % ±0.45
and 80.54 % ±0.07 respectively. The weight of CaCO3 in the eggshells were 0.42 g, 0.54 g, 0.47 g, 0.50
g and 0.36 g for local hen, hybrid hen, turkey, pigeon and domestic duck respectively. The result
indicates a significant difference associated with the species identity, district and their interaction. This
indicates that both intrinsic biological factors (such as nesting strategy and species-specific physiology)
and extrinsic regional factors (such as calcium availability and habitat conditions) influence eggshell
composition in birds.

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