Physicochemical Characterization of White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Waste as a Low-Cost Chitinous Biomaterial

This research evaluated the treatment and processing of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)exoskeleton by studying the physicochemical characteristics of the biomaterial viewing evaluate its adequacy as a sorbent. White shrimp shell contains chitin, a biopolymer with sorbent properties, and calcium carbonate, an acidity neutralizing agent, among its principal constituents. The exoskeletons, excluding the head, were treated by proposed low-cost methodology. Elemental chemical characterization was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, identifying two different constituent groups: trace and macro elements. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated a high thermal stability when compared to commercial chitin. The Surface Area and Pore Size and Volume analyses showed a heterogeneous specific surface area, with a mean pore diameter in the range of microporous (phi < 20 angstrom) and mesoporous (20 angstrom < phi < 500 angstrom) predominantly. The particle size, determined by Mastersizer 2000, and the morphology, determined by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy, confirmed the heterogeneity of the processed bioresidue. This characterization indicated the adequacy of the treatment for obtaining from shrimp shells a chitinous biomaterial for potential use as a sorption and neutralization agent once its main constituents (chitin and calcium carbonate) were not modified with the treatment.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the treatment and processing of white shrimp exoskeleton to obtain chitinous biomaterial for potential use as a sorption and neutralization agent. The physicochemical characteristics of the processed bioresidue showed a specific surface area suitable for adsorption and neutralization applications.