Marine Waste Research Articles

Innovative Marine-Sourced Hydroxyapatite, Chitosan, Collagen, and Gelatin for Eco-Friendly Bone and Cartilage Regeneration.

In recent years, the exploration of sustainable alternatives in the field of bone tissue engineering has led researchers to focus on marine waste byproducts as a valuable resource. These marine resources, often overlooked remnants of various industries, exhibit a rich composition of hydroxyapatite, collagen, calcium carbonate, and other minerals essential to the complex framework of bone structure. Marine waste by-products can emit gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, highlighting the urgency to repurpose these materials for innovative tissue regeneration solutions, offering a sustainable approach to address environmental challenges while advancing medical science. Using these discarded materials offers a promising pathway for sustainable development in regenerative medicine. This review investigates the distinctive properties of marine waste byproducts, emphasizing their capacity to be recycled effectively to contribute to the rebuilding of bone and cartilage tissue during regeneration processes. We also highlight the compatibility of these resources with biological materials such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cells, exosomes, and natural bioproducts, as well as nanoparticles (NPs) and polymers. By using the natural potential of these resources, we simultaneously address environmental challenges and promote innovative solutions in skeletal tissue engineering, initiating a new era of environmentally green biomedical research.

Valorizing sardine scales: a circular approach to sustainable collagen for cosmetics and nutrition applications

Background and ObjectiveIn recent years, the consumption of fish products has led to a worrying trend where approximately two-thirds of the total amount of fish is discarded as waste. At the same time, scientific interest in exploring natural collagen sources for cosmetics and dietary supplements has increased. This study explores the potential of valorizing sardine scales (Sardina pilchardus), a by-product of the canning industry, through the extraction of collagen for potential use in dermocosmetic formulations and food supplements.MethodsCollagen from sardine scales was obtained though acid and enzymatic extraction. The collagen extracts were characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR spectroscopy, SDS-PAGE, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The collagen was hydrolysed with papain to small peptides. Subsequently, the biological activities of acid-soluble collagen as well as the collagen peptides in terms of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were evaluated. Furthermore, the capacity of collagen peptides to permeate the intestinal barrier, simulated with caco-2 cells, was evaluated.ResultsPurified collagen extracts were obtained from sardine scales, with enzymatic extraction method having a yield three times higher than the acid method. The SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed the extraction of type I collagen as well as its hydrolysis into small fragments (25–12 kDa). In terms of biological activities, collagen and collagen peptides have not demonstrated antimicrobial activity. However, regarding antioxidant activity, collagen peptides showed three times more capacity compared to non-hydrolyzed collagen. Meanwhile, in 6 h, about 6.37% of collagen peptides could permeate the intestinal barrier.ConclusionThis work represents a continuous effort to advance our understanding and utilization of Portuguese marine waste resources, with focus on the valorization of sardine co-products for the development of food supplement or cosmetic formulations, contributing to the sustainable evolution of the circular blue economy.

Experimental Study of the Mechanical Properties of Mortar with Biobío Region Clam Shells Used as a Partial Replacement for Cement

The use of seashells as a partial substitute for cement in construction not only offers an innovative solution for marine waste management but also contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of the cement industry, decreasing the CO2 emissions associated with cement production and promoting more sustainable construction practices. This study addresses the mechanical behavior of mortar specimens with partial cement replacement using crushed Biobío region clam shells, both calcined and uncalcined, at substitution rates of 5% and 10%. This approach allows the analysis of their effect on the mechanical strength and properties of the mortar, which has not been widely investigated in the Chilean context or with this particular species of shell. For the mechanical characterization of the specimens, tensile flexural tests and compressive tests were were conducted at ages of 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. The compressive strengths of the samples that incorporated calcined residue with partial cement replacements of 5% and 10% were 83.69% and 78.27%, respectively, of the average strength of 20.97 MPa reached by the standard sample. In terms of their tensile flexural strength, these samples reached average strengths of 104.31% and 104.04% of the strength of 12.12 MPa obtained by the standard sample. In the case of the uncalcined samples, the 5% and 10% replacements reached 103.55% and 102.64% of the tensile strength of 15.54 MPa obtained by the standard sample, while they reached 92.32% and 80.07% of the compressive strength of 27.81 MPa achieved by the standard sample. From these results, it is determined that the calcined shells did not improve the mechanical resistance of the mortar, suggesting that the calcination process must be studied in depth.

Organic fertilizer integrated with marine waste derived CaCO3 nanocarrier system: A focus on enhanced yield and quality in tomato cultivation

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid and other mineral sources including phosphorus, potassium, zinc, magnesium and iron. Major constraints in tomato cultivation were high cost, poor cultivation due to adverse weather conditions, pest attacks, microbial infections and nutritional deficiency complications. Conventional fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and growth regulators are effective at higher concentration, which induces specific toxic effects on soil fertility, plant yield and also affects the health status of humans, animals and soil associated microbes. The use of organic fertilizers to meet the soil nutrient demand increases the acidity of soil affecting plant growth, which turned the focus of researchers towards nanofertilizer. The present study focuses on synthesis of marine waste derived CaCO3 nanoparticles formulated with azadirachtin and panchakavya emulsion to develop a CaCO3 nanofertilizer. CaCO3 nanofertilizer developed through this study was investigated for its material properties and behavioral traits. Further, the in-vitro antifungal impact of the CaCO3 nanofertilizer was examined, and it was sprayed on tomato plants via foliar spray. CaCO3 nanofertilizer effectively inhibited fusarium wilt causing plant fungal pathogen and also exhibited enhanced growth and yield of tomatoes against pest attack and nutritional deficiency with effect to foliar treatment. Also, CaCO3 nanofertilizer enhanced the total carotenoid level and essential nutritional minerals in fruit yield of tomatoes. Overall, fabricated CaCO3 nanofertilizer exhibits synergistic role of fertilizer, pesticide, fungicide and growth regulator in tomato cultivation. It suggests that, CaCO3 nanofertilizer generated from renewable biowaste will become the innovative platform for sustainable agriculture.

Agarose Degrading Potential and Whole Genome Sequence Analysis of Marine Bacterium Aliagarivorans sp. Strain DM1 Isolated from the Arabian Sea.

In recent years, agar-degrading bacteria have gained significant interest due to their biotechnological, environmental, microbiological, and industrial applications. Agar poses challenges such as marine waste accumulation, difficult industrial processing, limited natural degradability, and sustainability concerns due to high demand and overharvesting of red algae. The present study addresses the need for efficient agar-degrading microorganisms by isolating Aliagarivorans sp. strain DM1 from biofilm on fabric surfaces in the intertidal regions of the Arabian Sea, India. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain DM1 is closely related to Aliagarivorans taiwanensis AAT1T, and it exhibited significant agar-degrading activity on Zobell marine agar plates. Whole genome sequencing of Aliagarivorans sp. strain DM1, conducted using the Illumina NovaSeq platform, yielded a genome size of 4,898,415bp with an average G + C content of 53.3%. The genome includes 4,518 predicted protein-coding genes (CDS), 86 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, with thirteen predicted agarases identified. The highest enzyme activity recorded was 51.00 U mL-1 on the 6th day of incubation using 10% inoculum, with optimal conditions of pH 8-9, 0.8M NaCl, and temperatures between 50 and 60°C. These findings underscore the promise of Aliagarivorans sp. strain DM1 in developing efficient enzymatic processes that can be applied in various biotechnological and industrial fields, including waste management and agaro-oligosaccharide production. Furthermore, strain DM1 possesses several key characteristics that enhance its adaptability and utility in marine and industrial applications, surpassing closely related strains in enzyme stability, environmental tolerance, and industrial versatility.

THE ROLE OF 4OCEAN IN CLEANING UP OF MARINE DEBRIS IN BALI IN 2022-2023

The garbage piled up in the ocean can be caused by household waste and increasing marine tourism and shipping activities. The increase of marine debris is an international case because it has impacted the global climate crisis resulting in the damage of marine ecosystems. Those large impacts caused by pollution in the ocean prompted many parties to make regulations regarding the marine debris crisis. In carrying out its project, 4ocean cleans up the garbage by transporting it from rivers, coasts, and the ocean, then brings it to the land and processes it into recycled products. The 4Ocean teams work using environmentally friendly equipment. 4Ocean cleans the ocean by removing around one million pounds of garbage every month. This project can help the government tackle the marine waste crisis. The method used in this research is a literature study where the author collects data through previous writings and searches for data from the internet. This research aims to look at the role of international organizations as one of the actors in international relations in dealing with the waste crisis.

Energy-efficient eco-friendly marine waste treatment: Recovery of caprolactam from fishing net waste using seashell-derived catalyst

Fishing net waste (FNW) is marine waste having significantly negative effects on the marine environment and ultimately human health. Herein, we endeavored to use a catalyst made from seashells for the recovery of caprolactam (CPL) from FNW (made of polyamide 6; free of any other materials like floats, lead lines, and sand) via a catalytic pyrolysis under CO2 atmosphere. The catalytic pyrolysis of FNW in CO2 over the seashell-derived catalyst yielded 77.7 wt% CPL at 500 °C. It was simulated on a large-scale based on data from laboratory-scale experiments, and energy analysis and life-cycle assessment (LCA) were carried out. The proposed integrated process consists of three steps: FNW-to-CPL conversion via catalytic pyrolysis, CPL recovery, and heat and power production. An effective separation process consisting of in series of flash and distillation columns was designed by considering the characteristics of resulting mixture, and the overall process allows the production of CPL from FNW with a high yield (74.3%). This value is only 3.4% point lower than the experimental yield of CPL (77.7%), and the energy requirements (0.21 MW heating energy) are met internally. The results of the LCA suggest that the proposed strategy can help solve the problem of marine pollution from debris such as FNW.

Utilization of marine waste enteromorpha prolifera powder to prepare sustainable lightweight cementitious materials

This study innovatively used enteromorpha prolifera powder (EPP) to prepare lightweight cementitious materials. The effect of EPP on the physical properties, mechanical strengths, and microstructure of mortar was tested and discussed. The results indicated that the density and thermal conductivity of mortar were significantly reduced after adding EPP, but the water absorption and porosity were increased accordingly, resulting in a significant loss of mechanical strength. Surprisingly, the density and thermal conductivity of mortar incorporated with 8 % EPP was only 855.00 kg/m3 and 0.28 W/m•K (reduced by 57 % and 83 % respectively compared with plain mortar), and the 28 d compressive strength was still as high as 1.90 MPa. The results of thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction showed that as the EPP content increases, the Ca(OH)2 content decreases, and the CaCO3 content increases. This was due to the increase in porosity causing CO2 in the environment to enter the interior of the matrix. This study not only proposed new material for preparing sustainable lightweight cement mortar but also found a new way to utilize large amounts of waste enteromorpha prolifera resources.

Hydrothermal preparation of pharmaceuticals adsorbents from chitin and chitosan: Optimization and mechanism

Hydrothermal treatment of fishery waste-derived chitin (CT) and chitosan (CS) was performed to prepare biochar adsorbents for the removal of pharmaceuticals of environmental concern. By systematically studying the effect of treatment conditions on the biochar structure, the correlation between biochar properties and the adsorption capacities was clarified to optimize the adsorption performance. CS hydrochars obtained by lower-temperature treatment showed high adsorption capacities for the pharmaceuticals having carboxyl groups attributed to the electrostatic binding. A decrease in the density of available amines in CS hydrochars prepared at higher temperatures resulted in lower adsorption capacities and the manifestation of different adsorption mechanisms based on hydrophobic and π-π interactions. CT hydrochars showed lower adsorption capacities than CS hydrochars due to inefficient carbonization and lack of adsorption sites. The hydrochar adsorbents prepared in this study address simultaneously the problems of marine waste bioresource utilization and environmental cleaning from the emergent pollutants.

Composition of Marine Debris on The Coast of Banyuwangi, East Java

Marine debris has emerged as a significant environmental issue of growing global concern, closely linked to pollution and its impact on the environment. Understanding the distribution of marine waste in coastal areas is crucial, especially considering that beaches are key sites for various human activities such as tourism, fishing, and shipping. To address this, a study was conducted to analyze the composition of marine debris on three beaches in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java. The study took place in July and August of 2023, focusing on Boom, Cacalan, and Cemara beaches. Marine debris was collected along the coastline in 5 x 5 m transects, spaced 20 m apart, to identify and quantify the types of waste. The findings revealed that Boom Beach had the highest percentage of rubbish (46%), followed by Cemara Beach (30%) and Cacalan Beach (24%). Additionally, the highest abundance of rubbish per area was found at Boom Beach (5.97 ± 16.64 item/m2), Cemara Beach (3,92 ± 11,36 item/m2), and Cacalan Beach (3,12 ± 5,27 item/m2). Boom Beach and Cemara Beach were primarily dominated by plastic waste, while at Cacalan Beach, plastic waste and broken glass were found in nearly equal proportions. The calculation of the Clean Coast Index (CCI) indicated that all three beaches were significantly polluted. As a result, there is a clear need for focused attention on waste management at tourist beaches to preserve the aesthetics and comfort of beach visitors.

Lightweight deep learning model for underwater waste segmentation based on sonar images

In recent years, the rapid accumulation of marine waste not only endangers the ecological environment but also causes seawater pollution. Traditional manual salvage methods often have low efficiency and pose safety risks to human operators, making automatic underwater waste recycling a mainstream approach. In this paper, we propose a lightweight multi-scale cross-level network for underwater waste segmentation based on sonar images that provides pixel-level location information and waste categories for autonomous underwater robots. In particular, we introduce hybrid perception and multi-scale attention modules to capture multi-scale contextual features and enhance high-level critical information, respectively. At the same time, we use sampling attention modules and cross-level interaction modules to achieve feature down-sampling and fuse detailed features and semantic features, respectively. Relevant experimental results indicate that our method outperforms other semantic segmentation models and achieves 74.66 % mIoU with only 0.68 M parameters. In particular, compared with the representative PIDNet Small model based on the convolutional neural network architecture, our method can improve the mIoU metric by 1.15 percentage points and can reduce model parameters by approximately 91 %. Compared with the representative SeaFormer T model based on the transformer architecture, our approach can improve the mIoU metric by 2.07 percentage points and can reduce model parameters by approximately 59 %. Our approach maintains a satisfactory balance between model parameters and segmentation performance. Our solution provides new insights into intelligent underwater waste recycling, which helps in promoting sustainable marine development.

Multifunctional applications of seaweed extract-infused hydroxyethyl cellulose-polyvinylpyrrolidone aerogels: Antibacterial, and antibiofilm proficiency for water decontamination

Establishing a reliable and secure water supply is still a significant challenge in many areas that need more infrastructure. Eliminating harmful bacteria from water systems is a critical obstacle to managing the spread of waterborne illnesses and protecting public health. Thus, this work focuses on enhancing the efficiency of using marine waste extract, namely seaweed, by its integrating its extract into aerogels based on Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVP). Four formulations were created with increasing concentrations of Padina extract (PE): PE-0, PE-1, PE-2, and PE-3 loaded HEC-PVP aerogels. PE-3 loaded HEC-PVP aerogel showed remarkable efficacy in completely deactivating several types of bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus subtilis. This antibacterial impact was seen within a short time frame of 75 min after treatment, making it the most significant outcome. Significantly, it had the greatest level of inhibition against E. coli (IZD: 24 mm) and showed potent inhibitory effects against S. enterica, E. faecalis, and B. subtilis, with IZD values of 18, 15, and 14 mm, respectively. These results indicate that the aerogel's ability to prohibite the harmfull microorganisms may be due to its surface qualities, which help release antimicrobial substances from the PE contained in the aerogel.

Microwave-catalyzed co-pyrolysis of Chlorella vulgaris and marine waste plastics using Ni-Fe@C bifunctional catalyst: Characterization, pyrolysis oil analysis and reaction mechanism

The co-pyrolysis of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) and marine waste plastics (MW) is beneficial in solving the shortcomings of microalgae conversion and alleviating marine ecological problems. In this paper, the monometallic (Ni, Fe) and bimetallic (Ni-Fe) based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived catalysts were prepared, and the effects of catalysts with different additions amounts (10 %, 20 % and 30 %) on co-pyrolysis of CV and MW were studied by microwave oven. The results showed that the catalysts improved co-pyrolysis characteristics and pyrolysis oil yield. The maximum average weight loss rate (0.02395 wt%/s) and pyrolysis oil yield (14.17 %), as well as the minimum reaction time (2971 s) under 30 % Fe-Ni@C. GC-MS showed that adding catalysts to C8M2 (CV/MW = 8:2) increased the hydrocarbon content (>30 %) and the denitrogenation efficiency (>31 %) in pyrolysis oil, while enhancing the selectivity of low carbon numbers (<20). Furthermore, Fe-Ni@C promoted the Diels-Alder reaction, deoxygenation, dehydration, decarboxylation, cyclization, and deamidation, intensifying the generation of aromatic compounds and reducing nitrogen compounds. Specifically, the highest aromatic hydrocarbon content (23.48 %) and denitrogenation efficiency (43.87 %) were obtained under 30 % Fe-Ni@C.

Evaluation of South Korean marine waste resources for hydrochar production: Effect of process variables

This study assessed the hydrochar production potential of fish and crustacean waste from 8 marine species (Scomber japonicus, Trichiurus lepturus, Larimichthys polyactis, Trachurus trachurus, Paralichthys olivaceus Litopenaeus vannamei, Portunus trituberculatus, and Penaeus monodon) through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of their waste fractions. The impact of reaction temperature (200 – 240°C), fixed residence time (5 h), and water-to-biomass ratio (7) on HTC was analyzed. The results showed that hydrochar yields varied between fish (15.1 – 21.5 %) and crustaceans (36.9 – 69.3 %). The elemental composition and surface properties of the hydrochar were influenced by reaction temperature, as indicated by the pH point of zero charge. The adsorption capacity of hydrochar was tested for methylene blue (MB, 2.7 – 10.8 mg/g) and methyl orange (MO, 5.9 – 9.2 mg/g), with MO showing higher adsorption, except for Scomber japonicus, Larimichthys polyactis, and Trachurus trachurus. These findings highlight the significant potential for converting marine waste into valuable hydrochar, contributing to waste management and sustainable resource utilization.

Co-pyrolysis characteristics and pyrolysis oil analysis of Chlorella vulgaris and marine waste plastics with multi-metal MOFs-derived additive

In this study, MOFs-derived additives with microwave absorption and catalytic characteristics were employed in the microwave co-pyrolysis of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) and marine waste plastics (MW) to produce high-quality pyrolysis oil. The effects of additives (Ni-Cu@C, Ni-Co@C, Cu-Co@C and Ni-Cu-Co@C) under different addition amounts (10%, 20%, 30%) on co-pyrolysis characteristics, product yield and pyrolysis oil composition were investigated. Furthermore, the pyrolysis mechanism was analyzed. The results showed that the MOFs-derived additives improved the co-pyrolysis characteristics, especially at 30% addition amount. The maximum average weight loss rate (0.0273 wt.%/s) and pyrolysis oil yield (14.33%) obtained at 30% Ni-Cu-Co@C group. Moreover, the aromatic content (30.07%), deoxygenation efficiency (27.70%) and denitrogenation efficiency (80.03%) in pyrolysis oil were maximum at adding 30% Ni-Cu-Co@C. Ni-Cu-Co@C promoted the nitrogen transformation into gaseous products, while reduced the nitrogen contents in char and pyrolysis oil. Meanwhile, the nitrogen in char was dominated by pyridine-N and quaternary-N. Importantly, the activity of the Ni-Cu-Co@C remained 0.66 times of the initial activity after 5 cycles, demonstrating the excellent regenerative usability.

Sea/coral sand in marine engineered geopolymer composites: Engineering, mechanical, and microstructure properties

AbstractUtilizing marine waste and resources for eco‐friendly building materials is pivotal in promoting sustainable development in island and coastal construction industries. Among the potential alternatives, coral sand as well as sea sand stands out as a promising material. This research seeks to explore the potential of coral/sea sand as a fine aggregate in the creation of environmentally sustainable marine engineered geopolymer composites. An assessment was conducted on the influence of varying proportions of coral sand, meant as a substitute for sea sand, on the flowability, drying shrinkage, mechanical properties, and microstructure of the marine engineered geopolymer composites. The findings indicate that as coral sand replaces sea sand, flowability and drying shrinkage decrease, while compressive strength experiences an initial rise followed by a decline. Encouragingly, a combination of coral and sea sands enhances tensile ductility. Overall, a 20 wt.% coral sand mixture yields optimal results, with the compressive strength is 54.4 Mpa and the tensile strain capacity is 2.397% after 28 days. Moreover, microscopic tests reveal changes in hydration products and pore structure. Our research delves into the potential of coral/sea sand as a fine aggregate in the creation of environmentally sustainable marine engineered geopolymer composites.

A review on Adsorption of Textile Dyes Onto an Unconventional Biosorbent: Marine Waste of Posidonia Oceanica

A review on Adsorption of Textile Dyes Onto an Unconventional Biosorbent: Marine Waste of Posidonia Oceanica

Utilization of recycled coral sand and aluminum scraps in foam concrete: Preparation, insulation of environmental noise and heat, and pore structure

The utilization of industrial and marine wastes in building materials can significantly mitigate resource consumption and environmental hazards. In this study, the waste aluminum scraps and coral sand were utilized as foaming agent and fillers for foam concrete (FC) to address application challenges associated with industrial and marine wastes. Simultaneously, their impact on the mechanical property, heat and noise insulation properties, as well as pore structure of FC were investigated. The response surface methodology was used to optimize the mix design of FC. Heat and noise insulation characteristics of FC were tested by a visible infrared thermometer and a self-manufactured soundproof device, while the pore characteristic was analyzed by digital image processing technique. Additionally, the effect of foaming agents and coral sand on the internal pore structure of FC was studied by means of microscopic analysis(FTIR, XRD, SEM). The results show that foam content significantly influenced the performance of FC. As the foam content reached 15%, the compressive strength was the worst (ranging from 1.26 to 1.59MPa). Additionally, foam and coral sand inhibited the expansion of sulfoaluminate cement. At 15% foam content and 30% coral sand content, the thermal conductivity decreased to 0.082 W/(m·℃), representing a reduction of 52.5% compared to the control group. Regarding noise reduction performance, a foam content of 10% yields optimal results. The heat and noise insulation properties were both improved due to the enhanced porous structure of coral sand. However, excessive admixtures, such as 50 % content of coral sand, could weaken the strength by destroying the fine pore structure. Microscopic analysis further revealed that foaming agents could affect the hydration of cement with little impact on macro performance. Moreover, they also enhanced the toughness of bubbles and changed the surface structure of pore walls to ensure the integrity of the pore structure of FC.

Marine waste as a resource: Developing bio-epoxy composites for a sustainable future

Biowastes from discarded fishscales and seashells are rich sources of natural polymers, such as collagen, keratin, and calcium carbonate, that can be used to produce eco-friendly and biodegradable polymer composites. Therefore, utilizing the biowastes for manufacturing polymer composite can offer significant economic, environmental, and social benefits. This experimental study explores the use of Biopoxy matrix (SR33) and fish scale and seashell powders derived from biowastes as filler reinforcements while the composites were manufactured through open mold stir casting technique. Thereafter, the fillers were extracted and processed from raw waste sources, and were characterized using XRD and FTIR analyses. Mechanical and physical properties, including density, water absorption, fracture morphology, flexural, tensile, impact strength, and hardness, were also evaluated to assess the composite's performance. Additionally, thermal properties were investigated through DSC and TGA analyses. Interestingly, the results revealed that green composites with fish scale fillers at 2.5 wt% and seashell fillers at 7.5 wt% exhibited superior performance captured through enhanced mechanical and thermal properties versus control composite samples, suggesting their efficacy in reinforcing the biopoxy matrix. The study underscores the potential of utilizing biowaste-derived fillers for sustainable and eco-friendly composite materials. The combination of biopoxy with these specific filler concentrations presents a promising avenue for developing green composites with favorable mechanical and thermal characteristics, contributing to the ongoing efforts for sustainable material development.

Marine waste derived carbon materials for use as sulfur hosts for Lithium-Sulfur batteries

Lithium–sulfur batteries are a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries as they can potentially offer significantly increased capacities and energy densities. The ever-increasing global battery market demonstrates that there will be an ongoing demand for cost effective battery electrode materials. Materials derived from waste products can simultaneously address two of the greatest challenges of today, i.e., waste management and the requirement to develop sustainable materials. In this study, we detail the carbonisation of gelatin from blue shark and chitin from prawns, both of which are currently considered as waste biproducts of the seafood industry. The chemical and physical properties of the resulting carbons are compared through a correlation of results from structural characterisation techniques, including electron imaging, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and nitrogen gas adsorption. We investigated the application of the resulting carbons as sulfur-hosting electrode materials for use in lithium–sulfur batteries. Through comprehensive electrochemical characterisation, we demonstrate that value added porous carbons, derived from marine waste are promising electrode materials for lithium–sulfur batteries. Both samples demonstrated impressive capacity retention when galvanostatically cycled at a rate of C/5 for 500 cycles. This study highlights the importance of looking towards waste products as sustainable feeds for battery material production.