Production of Cost-Effective Mesoporous Materials from Prawn Shell Hydrocarbonization.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Adsorption Science

Background:

• Prawn shells are an abundant, underutilized waste material.
• Developing sustainable adsorbents is crucial for environmental remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To produce mesoporous adsorbents from prawn shells via hydrocarbonization.
• To investigate the effect of temperature and time on hydrochar properties.
• To evaluate the adsorption performance of hydrochars for p-nitrophenol removal.

Main Methods:

• Hydrocarbonization of prawn shells at varying temperatures and times.
• Characterization using N2 adsorption, SEM, ultimate analysis, and surface composition.
• Adsorption studies using p-nitrophenol as a model pollutant.

Main Results:

• Mesoporous hydrochars were successfully produced.
• Low BET surface area was observed due to CaCO3 presence.
• Hydrochar treatment enhanced adsorption capacity for p-nitrophenol up to 1.6 mg/g.

Conclusions:

• Hydrocarbonization is a viable method for converting prawn shells into functional adsorbents.
• Treated prawn shells demonstrate improved adsorption capabilities for pollutants.
• This research offers a sustainable approach to waste valorization and water treatment.