Production of Hybrid Hydroxyapatite-Hollow Pollen Microcapsules for Waste Treatment

The main objective of this thesis is to create hollow pollen grains by removing organic components from specific spherical, porous pollen grains. This process involves removing organic matter to leave behind sturdy, hollow structures that can serve a variety of purposes. After the organic content is removed, these hollow pollen shells are filled with synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA), a biologically compatible material widely used in biomedical and engineering fields, particularly in bone and tooth repair. By incorporating HA into hollow pollen shells, we obtain complex materials with a combination of properties useful in various industries, such as environmental science. This study focuses on analyzing the physicochemical properties of “Millefiori pollen” and also includes the identification of other pollen types. In this thesis study, the aim is to develop functional composite materials using only the natural microstructure of Millefiori pollen grains. Among the various methods applied, acid-assisted ether extraction ensured the cleanest hollow structures were obtained while minimizing morphological distortion. The resulting hollow pollen structures were used as biological templates for the synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HA), a biocompatible inorganic material widely used in both biomedical and environmental applications. The synthesized pollen-HA composites were characterized using analytical techniques such as SEM and EDS, and it was confirmed that HA successfully precipitated into and around the pollen shells. The adsorption performance of these composites was tested using methylene blue (cationic) and acid red 6 (anionic) dyes as model pollutants. The results obtained demonstrated that the material is effective in dye removal through ion exchange and surface interactions. This study highlights that biomimetic structures derived from pollen offer a promising platform for the development of sustainable hybrid organic– inorganic systems for wastewater treatment.