Waste Mussel Shells Research Articles

Inhibition of mussel settlement by calcined mussel shell powder through altering biofilms and bacterial community

Sustainability-driven innovations with non-toxic coating developing is essential. Here, we utilized the waste mussel shells as an alternative antifouling coating to test the potential impacts on biofilm formation and then Mytilus coruscus settlement. Compared with Natural Mussel Shell Powder (NMSP), the bacterial density of biofilm on 10 mg/mL Calcined Mussel Shell Powder (CMSP) coating was 63.09%, lowered significantly (p < 0.05). Further analysis of X-ray diffraction test showed the phase transformation appeared in the CMSP in comparison to NMSP. The biofilm bioassays showed that in 28-day-old natural biofilm, compared with Glass and PDMS, the bacterial density in 10 mg/mL CMSP decreased by 46.58 % and 34.60 %, respectively, and the diatom density decreased by 71.07 % and 42.99 %, respectively. Compared to Glass and PDMS, the relative abundance of Psychrobacter and Loktanella in the 28-day-old biofilms on CMSP coating was reduced, but that of Erythrobacter increased. Simultaneously, settlement on 10 mg/mL CMSP was reduced by 65.31 % and 72.13 %, respectively, compared to PDMS and Glass in the case of 28-day-old biofilms. These results demonstrate the viability of CMSP as a coating and provide a sustainable solution to against marine biofouling.

From Waste to Catalyst: Transforming Mussel Shells into a Green Solution for Biodiesel Production from Jatropha curcas Oil

This study introduces an innovative approach to sustainable biodiesel production using mussel shell-derived calcium oxide (CaO) as a catalyst for converting Jatropha curcas oil into biodiesel. By repurposing waste mussel shells, the research aims to provide an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for environmentally responsible biodiesel production, aligning with global standards. The study involves characterizing the catalyst, optimizing reaction conditions, and achieving a remarkable 99.36% Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) yield, marking a significant step toward cleaner and more economically viable energy sources. Biodiesel, recognized for its lower emissions, is produced through transesterification using mussel shell-derived CaO as a sustainable catalyst. This research contributes to cleaner and economically viable energy sources, emphasizing the importance of sustainable energy solutions and responsible catalytic processes. This research bridges the gap between waste management, catalyst development, and sustainable energy production, contributing to the ongoing global shift towards cleaner and more economically viable energy sources.

Effect of pH on mussel shells-originated HAP supported Ag catalysts for catalytic combustion of VOCs

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) triggered serious air pollution and mussel shell caused the marine environmental issues. Herein, hydroxyapatite (HAP) using mussel shells as calcium source was prepared by hydrothermal method with different pH (pH = 6, 8, 10, 11) controls to support Ag catalyst for removal of VOCs. It was found that the amount of skeletal hydroxyl species and textual properties of HAP were controlled by pH effectively, and the increase of hydroxyl groups in the framework resulted in forming smaller-sized Ag2O particles. When pH was 8, the Ag/HAP-BpH=8 catalyst exhibited 100 % conversion of ethyl acetate and toluene at 260 °C and 300 °C, respectively. Silver species were more likely existed on the surface of HAP-BpH=8 to form large-size Ag particles (6.4 nm) and more Ag2O species. The lower ratio of Ag0/Ag+ were crucial for improving the VOCs oxidation activity at lower temperatures. This work applied waste mussel shells to prepare high value-added Ag/hydroxyapatite catalysts and to promote VOCs catalytic oxidation.

Modeling and optimization of biodiesel from high free‐fatty‐acid chicken fat by non‐catalytic esterification and mussel‐shell‐catalyzed transesterification

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn this study, biodiesel was prepared from chicken fat via a transesterification reaction using Mussel shells as a catalyst. Pretreatment of chicken fat was carried out using non‐catalytic esterification to reduce the free fatty acid content from 36.28 to 0.96 mg KOH/g oil using an ethanol/ fat mole ratio equal to 115:1. In the transesterification reaction, the studied variables were methanol: oil mole ratio in the range of (6:1 ‐ 30:1), catalyst loading in the range of (9‐15) wt%, reaction temperature (55‐75 °C), and reaction time (1‐7) h. The heterogeneous alkaline catalyst was greenly synthesized from waste mussel shells throughout a calcination process at different calcination times of (1‐5) h and temperatures of (700‐900) °C. The catalyst was characterized using BET, SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR.RESULTSIn the transesterification reaction, the best values of the studied parameters were: 21:1 methanol: oil molar ratio, 12 wt% catalyst loading, 5 h reaction time, and 63°C reaction temperature, which gave 96.2% methyl esters content. For catalyst synthesis, it was found that the optimum calcination conditions were 900 °C and 3 h, which resulted in a specific surface area of 10.5 m2/g and a large pore volume of 0.0033 cm3/g.CONCLUSIONA calcium oxide catalyst was successfully prepared from mussel shells. This catalyst was used to transesterify the chicken fat into biodiesel. The prepared catalyst exhibited a high active surface area and a pore volume, confirming that the CaO catalyst produced from waste mussel shells worked effectively, steadily, and affordably to produce renewable biodiesel. The best working conditions for the transesterification reaction were determined using the central Composite Design method (CCD). © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Recovering and Exploiting Aragonite and Calcite Single Crystals with Biologically Controlled Shapes from Mussel Shells.

Control over the shape and morphology of single crystals is a theme of great interest in fundamental science and for technological application. Many synthetic strategies to achieve this goal are inspired by biomineralization processes. Indeed, organisms are able to produce crystals with high fidelity in shape and morphology utilizing macromolecules that act as modifiers. An alternative strategy can be the recovery of crystals from biomineralization products, in this case, seashells. In particular, waste mussel shells from aquaculture are considered. They are mainly built up of single crystals of calcite fibers and aragonite tablets forming an outer and an inner layer, respectively. A simple mechanochemical treatment has been developed to separate and recover these two typologies of single crystals. The characterization of these single crystals showed peculiar properties with respect to the calcium carbonate from quarry or synthesis. We exploited these biomaterials in the water remediation field using them as substrate adsorbing dyes. We found that these substrates show a high capability of adsorption for anionic dye, such as Eosin Y, but a low capability of adsorption for cationic dyes, such as Blue Methylene. The adsorption was reversible at pH 5.6. This application represents just an example of the potential use of these biogenic single crystals. We also envision potential applications as reinforcing fillers and optical devices.

Trash to treasure: Green synthesis of novel Ag2O/Ag2CO3 Z-scheme heterojunctions with highly efficient photocatalytic activities derived from waste mussel shells

Shells, valuable renewable natural resources with particular mechanical properties and structures, are mostly abandoned as waste and accumulated in environment, leading to serious pollution and resource waste. To realize the high value reutilization and environmental protection, here, novel Ag-based photocatalysts were in-situ fabricated via a facile ball milling method using waste mussel shells as precursors for the first time. The composition, structure and photocatalytic activity of the obtained Ag-based photocatalysts can be regulated by the alkalinity of the reaction system caused by different treatments towards mussel shells. Among the obtained products, the Ag2O/Ag2CO3 Z-scheme heterojunctions with massive oxygen vacancies displayed the strongest visible-light photocatalytic ability and superior reusability in degrading sulfadiazine, which can be attributed to the wider light response region and faster separation of photoinduced charge carriers. Besides, the photocatalytic mechanism was speculated according to the tests of radicals trapping, electron spin resonance and simulation calculations, verifying the charge transfer direction and chief roles of ·O2− and h+ during the photocatalytic reaction. Above all, this study not only provides a convenient in-situ solid-state strategy to construct novel Ag-based photocatalysts with excellent photocatalytic activity, but also opens up a new perspective towards high value reutilization of waste shells in environmental remediation, “One Stone Two Birds” realizing the “control of waste by waste” and “trash to treasure”.

Comparing the adsorption isotherms and kinetics of phosphate adsorption on various waste shells as adsorbent

Abstract Excess phosphate in water bodies causes algae bloom and this phenomenon can reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen in water bodies, resulting in the death of aquatic life. The major focus of this study is to prepare adsorbent from three waste shells for phosphate adsorption from aqueous solution and to compare their effectiveness. This study used adsorbents made from marsh clamshells, waste mussel shells, and eggshells. PO43– adsorption by these shells was analysed using several parameter values, with an initial PO43− concentration of 10 mg L−1, solution volume of 100 mL, adsorbent dosage of 2 g, and various contact times. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model fitted the batch experimental data better as evidenced by the R2 values for raw marsh clamshell (0.9991), calcined waste mussel shell (0.9999), and calcined eggshell (0.9997), indicating that the adsorption between the various adsorbents and PO43− is a chemisorption process. Calcined eggshell showed the best PO43− removal efficiency (99%), followed by calcined waste mussel shell (96%), and raw marsh clamshell (73%). The application of waste material to adsorb phosphate from aqueous solution shows the potential of a new adsorbents for use in real adsorption wastewater treatment technologies.

Valorization of seashell waste in polypropylene composites: An accessible solution to overcome marine landfilling

Waste mussel (Mytilus galloprovencis) and clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) shells can be used as a bio-filler in polymeric composites. In this work, powdered shell wastes were incorporated into a polypropylene (PP) matrix. The powdered shell wastes were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). DSC analysis of the PP composites indicates that both fillers did not act as nucleating agents but partially interfere with the formation of the crystalline phase of the polymer matrix. Moreover, by increasing the filler content, the elastic modulus of PP enhanced from ∼450 to ∼510 MPa. Finally, it was evidenced that mussels and clams shell powders enhanced the solar reflectance features of PP.

Performance of downpipe treatment system for removal of dissolved metals from roof runoff

Abstract Untreated metal roof runoff can contribute elevated zinc and copper to receiving waterways, with associated ecotoxic impacts on the aquatic ecosystem. The majority of the metals in roof runoff are in dissolved form, which can be difficult to remove with conventional stormwater treatment systems. Treatment materials such as limestone and zeolite are capable of removing dissolved metals, but most research to date has only assessed the performance of such materials using synthetic runoff and long contact times. This study assessed the performance of limestone, zeolite and waste mussel shells in a vertical downpipe configuration with short contact time using actual metal roof runoff. Metal removal was compared under flowrates of 1 L/min and 3 L/min, material compaction level (less/more), and material depth (1 m and 0.5 m). A 93%–99% reduction was achieved in dissolved zinc by all treatment materials for all flowrates, compaction levels and depths. Higher variance in dissolved Cu removal rates were observed, with material depth found to have the greatest influence on performance: 84%–99% removal rates were achieved by the three materials at 1 m depth, but for 0.5 m depths, 44%–99%, 34%–92%, and 47%–93% removal were achieved by zeolite, limestone, and waste mussel shells respectively. The mussel shell removal performance was comparable to zeolite and limestone, yet it provides the added benefit of using a waste resource that would otherwise be disposed of to landfill. While this study demonstrates the potential of waste mussel shells for dissolved metal treatment, long term field trials and experimental analysis of the removal mechanisms of waste mussel shells would enable optimization of this treatment technology.

Hard to Soft: Biogenic Absorbent Sponge-like Material from Waste Mussel Shells

Summary Mussel shells are a source of renewable CaCO3 and can be obtained from aquaculture waste streams. Valorization of waste shells relieves strain on landfills and aligns with the goals of a circular economy. Here, we present the preparation of an absorbent CaCO3 material, soft calcite (SC), prepared from waste blue mussel shells under mild conditions. Calcite is the only polymorph present in SC, despite the presence of aragonite in the shell. SC has a nest-like morphology, unlike the highly ordered calcite in the shell. SC is formed by the reassembly of calcite prisms and may be held together by the organic matrix “glue” from the original shell as evidenced by NMR spectroscopy. This inorganic sponge adsorbs dyes from aqueous solution and absorbs crude oil from seawater with good recyclability. Our results demonstrate how a natural structure can be modified in a sustainable fashion to yield a higher-value material.

Co-pyrolysis of softwood with waste mussel shells: Biochar analysis

In this work, fisheries by-product (mussel shells) is co-pyrolyzed with forestry residues in a fast pyrolysis lab scale reactor to determine impact on biochar quality. Both mussel shells and forestry residues are waste materials with potential for the production of value added products. The pyrolysis temperature, nitrogen flow, and wood-to-mussel shell ratio (up to 50 wt%) were varied, and thermal, physical, and chemical properties of the produced biochars were investigated in a lab scale tube furnace reactor via response surface methodology (RSM). The smaller mussel shell (MS) particles decreased the surface area by filling the pores in the biochar structure. Biochars containing MS showed lower heating values, higher alkaline pH values, and higher ash content (due to the formation of CaO from CaCO3). Surface analysis showed higher functionality in co-pyrolyzed biochars, decreased hydrogen and increased nitrogen and oxygen. These properties could potentially improve adsorption of hydrophobic molecules (e.g. VOCs), acidic gases, and metal ions in aqueous solution compared to forestry biochar. Moreover, alkaline pH makes the biochar a promising additive for acidic soil.

Using mussel shell wastes as an additive for the production of thermally improved polypropylene composite monofilaments

In this study, powdered waste mussel shells were used as a filler to improve the thermal properties of polypropylene monofilaments. Composite polypropylene monofilaments including various amounts of mussel shell particles were produced by melt mixing and extrusion. Thermal characterization was performed with the thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, tensile tests and limiting oxygen index tests were carried out to analyze the mechanical behavior and the flammability, respectively. X-ray diffraction were used to analyze crystal structure changes of the monofilaments. According to the test results, increased filler ratio has a limited effect to limiting oxygen index of monofilaments. In the X-ray diffractograms, the lowest intensity loss was observed for the monofilament with 5% filler due to a homogeneous dispersion of lower filler content in the structure. Furthermore, thermal stability and crystallization temperature of the monofilaments increased by increased filler ratio.

Synthesis of hydroxyapatite from mussel shells for effective adsorption of aqueous Cd(II).

We report the synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAP) powder from waste mussel shells (decomposed to CaO) and phosphoric acid at room temperature without pH control. The powder synthesized was utilized for cadmium removal from aqueous solutions using the batch technique. The effects of solution pH, adsorbent dose; initial Cd2+ concentration, contact time, and temperatures were examined. Furthermore, the adsorption process revealed a pseudo-second-order reaction model and the Langmuir isotherm is the best-fit model to predict the experimental data and adsorption capacity was found to be 62.5 mg/g. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that because of the negative values of ΔGo and the positive value of ΔHo, the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. Cadmium immobilization occurs through a two step mechanism: rapid ion exchange followed by partial dissolution of hydroxapatite and precipitation of cadmium containing hydroxyapatite.

Co-pyrolysis of softwood with waste mussel shells: Liquid analysis

Fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) from lignocellulosic feedstocks can be limited to applications such as heating due in part to the high oxygen and resulting acid content of the oil which complicates storage, handling, and use in traditional petroleum-based systems. Research has been carried out to enhance the oil quality, both catalytically and non-catalytically. This work focuses on utilizing by-product from the fisheries industry as a co-pyrolysis additive to enhance oil quality. Mussel shells (MS) were co-pyrolyzed with softwood forestry residues in a lab-scale, tube furnace reactor. The pyrolysis temperature (400–525 °C), nitrogen flow rate (50–300 mL/min), wood-to-MS ratio (0–50 wt% MS), and operational mode (in-situ and ex-situ) were varied in a designed experiment. The produced pyrolysis oils were analyzed for water content (Karl-Fischer titration), high heating value (HHV), total acid number (TAN), pH, density, volatility and ash content via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and chemical composition via gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and C/H/N(O) elemental analysis. Co-pyrolysis with MS in-situ decreased the TAN of FPBO from 68 to 48mgNaOH/gOil), while the water content increased from 29 wt% to 39 wt%. However, the HHV of the water free oil increased from 22.4 to 23.6 MJ/kg indicating a reduction in oxygenated compounds, and therefore, an improvement in fuel quality of FPBO.

Low velocity impact behaviour of recycled mussel shell particles reinforced epoxy composites

In this study, low velocity impact behaviour of the recycled mussel shell particles reinforced epoxy composites experimentally investigated. This study is a new part of a continuous research, which aims to protect the environment against pollution of the waste mussel shells. The mussel shells that were used in the study are biologically defined as Mediterranean mussels. The waste mussel shells recycled by a hammer and a rod mill, respectively. A particle size analysis was done for the recycled mussel shells. According to the particle size analysis results mean diameter of the particles are 74 μm with 64 μm standard deviation. Particle reinforced epoxy composite was produced as a plate by vacuum assisted resin infusion molding method. After resin impregnation process finished, curing process started at 80 °C for 8 h. Dimensions of the produced composite plate was 650 mm × 310 mm × 10 mm (length × width × thickness). Then, impact specimens were cut from the plate at the dimensions of 100 mm x 100 mm × 10 mm (length × width × thickness) by a table saw machine. Low velocity impact tests were conducted for five specimens for 40 J impact energy. The recycled mussel shell particles reinforced polymeric composite materials showed maximum 36 J absorbed energy according to the test results. Finally, the morphology and the failure modes of the new composites were given in macro and micro scale by the scanning electron microscope analysis, respectively. In conclusion, waste mussel shells have good impact resistance to be used as a reinforcement material in polymeric composites. Moreover, using waste mussel shells in a production is an effective way to protect environmental pollution.

Valorisation of Waste Mussel Shells as Biosorbent for an Azo Dye Elimination

In the present study, the waste shells were used as a new low cost and eco-friendly biosorbant for Orange G anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions. Experiments were conducted in batch mode, and the effect of pH of solution, contact time, and initial dye concentration. X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and ICP-MS analysis for chemical analysis were used to characterize the obtained biosorbent. The results showed that the mussel shells are composed 73% of calcite and 26% of aragonite with some traces of aluminum, magnesium, sodium, silicium and zinc. The biosorption results show that the optimal pH was around 2 for efficient Orange G biosorption. The equilibrium was attained in 60 min. The kinetic analysis showed that the pseudo-second-order model is in good agreement with the experimental data. The biosorption isotherm was well described by Langmuir isotherm model, the maximumbiosorption capacity was 1000mg/g. The thermodynamic study revealed that the biosorption of Orange G onto mussel shell is spontaneous and exothermic.

High performance adsorption of hazardous triphenylmethane dye-crystal violet onto calcinated waste mussel shells

AbstractSynthetic dyes are harmful to human beings, and the removal of colour from process or waste effluents is environmentally important. Crystal violet (CV) is a typical triphenylmethane dye, which is widely used in textile dyeing and paper printing industries. The present study shows that granulated and calcinated waste mussell shells (CWMS) can be used as a potential low-cost and locally available adsorbent for the removal of CV from aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacities of the CWMS for CV were investigated with respect to the effect of pH value, adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial dye concentration and temperature. Process variables were optimized, and a maximum dye adsorption of 482.0 mg/g was achieved at pH 6, 0.2 g/L adsorbent dosage, 220 min contact time and 25 °C for dye initial concentration of 100 mg/L. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were followed by the pseudo-second order model and Freundlich isotherm models, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters demonstrated that adsorption of CV was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The results indicated that the CWMS as a new adsorbent had the potential to serve in wastewater treatment applications, especially in the removal of CV from aqueous solutions.

Mechanical properties of waste mussel shell particles reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract The aim of this research is to investigate the mechanical properties of a new bio-filler particle reinforced composite reinforced by recycled waste mussel shells. To this purpose, waste mussel shells were collected from a mussel trader and recycled in two stages: coarse processing using a hammer and fine processing by means of a rod mill. A size distribution analysis was conducted for the mussel shell particles after the recycling process. According to the results of the analysis, the particles were 74 μm in mean diameter with a 60 μm standard deviation. Vacuum assisted resin infusion molding, which is generally used to produce fiber reinforced composites, was used as the method of production. Subsequently, test specimens were prepared according to related standards and the mechanical properties of the composites such as micro-hardness, tensile strength, compression strength and flexural strength were investigated experimentally. Thetests were repeated five times for each mechanical property. It was determined from these experiments, that recycled mussel shell particle reinforced epoxy composites have a micro-hardness of approximately 170 HV, 24 MPa ultimate tensile strength, 112.8 MPa ultimate compression strength and 75 MPa flexural strength. Furthermore, flexural modules of the composites were calculated at 36.72 GPa. All experimental results are presented in graphs and tables. Finally, the results determined for these new bio-filler reinforced composites were compared with results pertaining to other alternative fillers available in the literature.

Preparation and evaluation of a hierarchical Bi2MoO6/MSB composite for visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance.

In this study, waste mussel shells were used to remove dyes in aqueous solution. Mussel shell was prepared into mussel shell biochar (MSB), which was used as a carrier to support Bi2MoO6. A novel Bi2MoO6/MSB composite photocatalyst was developed by the hydrothermal synthesis method. The as-synthesized sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2 adsorption–desorption method, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). Then, the photocatalytic activity of the prepared samples was determined by testing the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. The pre exfoliated layered MSB was an excellent supporting matrix for the growth of Bi2MoO6 nanoflakes. The obtained hierarchical Bi2MoO6/MSB composites exhibited significantly enhanced performance for photocatalytic degradation of RhB compared with pure Bi2MoO6 under visible light irradiation because of the improved electron–hole pair separation, which boosted the number of exposed catalytic active sites. Moreover, the Bi2MoO6/MSB composite photocatalyst is of good stability and reusability.

Investigation on surface charasteristics of uncalcinated and calcinated mussel shells

In recent years, developing economical adsorbents to treat with different types of pollutants has attracted great interest. Waste mussel shells are common wastes produced by the seafood industry. They have some advantages over conventional process such as simplicity of design and low cost. In this study, the uncalcinated and calcinated mussel shells were characterisated for their surface characteristics. Mussel shells washed with tap water several times followed by distilled water and dried at 105°C for 12 hours in an oven. They were powdered to small particles and calcined at 900°C for 2 hours. The sample was finely ground into small particles of different sizes, washed with distilled water and dried overnight at 105°C. And then, the sample was calcined at a heating rate of 2°C/min to 400°C and maintaned at this temperature for 4 hours.The calcined and uncalcined mussel shell samples were characterised by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Zeta potential mesaurements. The results indicated that calcination studies improved the surface charasteristics of the mussel shells and that the calcinated mussel shells can be used in adsorption studies as a novel low-cost, eco-friendly biosorbent efficiently&#x0D; Keywords: Adsorption, calcination, characterization, mussel shell.