Carbon capture technology innovation has surged in response to the global battle against climate change. Researchers at the University of Sharjah have developed a novel, sustainable carbon capture technique using shrimp waste, whereas conventional methods depend on expensive and energy-intensive materials.

In addition to addressing the urgent issue of managing seafood waste, this innovative, sustainable carbon capture technique using shrimp waste offers an economical and environmentally responsible approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Shrimp shells, heads, and intestinal tracts can be transformed into sustainable activated carbon with superior adsorption capabilities, according to research led by Dr. Haif Al-Jomard and published in Nanoscale.

The study is evidence of the circular economy‘s tenets, which view garbage as a resource with potential for industrial-scale uses rather than as a problem.

Why Shrimp Waste for Carbon Capture?

Millions of tons of waste are generated annually by the seafood industry, primarily from shellfish, including shrimp, lobsters, and crabs. The majority of this material is thrown away, which poses disposal and environmental problems.

• Every year, up to 8 million tons of garbage are produced worldwide from the processing of shrimp shells.
• Chitin and calcium carbonate, which can be converted into usable carbon compounds, make up the majority of this waste.
• Shrimp trash from Souq Al Jubail in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, was used in this investigation. The shrimp were first taken from Oman.

The selection of shrimp waste was based on its abundance of organic polymers and minerals, which may be converted into porous activated carbon through pyrolysis and chemical activation. This material’s enormous surface area and stable structure make it especially effective at capturing CO₂ molecules.

As a result, what was formerly a troublesome byproduct of the fishing industry is now a valuable tool for mitigating global warming.

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How Did Scientists Turn Shrimp Waste into Activated Carbon?

The study team converted shrimp waste into a high-performance carbon material through a multi-step process. Among the crucial phases of the sustainable carbon capture technique using shrimp waste were:

• Gathering and Cleaning: The heads and shells of the prawns were cleaned, allowed to air dry, and then prepared for processing.
• Pyrolysis: Biochar was created by heating the biomass in an oxygen-limited atmosphere.
• Acid Treatment: To improve pore growth and eliminate contaminants, the material underwent treatment.
• Chemical Activation: This enhanced the carbon’s surface area and porosity, which are essential for gas adsorption.
• Ball Milling: This process improved homogeneity and adsorption efficiency by finely grinding the material.

The activated carbon that was produced revealed:

• High capacity for CO₂ adsorption.
• Stability throughout several adsorption–desorption cycles.
• Robust chemical and textural qualities for industrial applications.

This method can be widely used because it is scalable and reasonably priced when compared to conventional carbon capture sorbents.

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What Are the Benefits of Sustainable Carbon Capture Technique Using Shrimp Waste?

The invention has two positive effects on the environment:

• Trash Management: It eliminates the issue of disposing of seafood trash, which lessens pollution and the load on landfills.
• Climate Mitigation: It helps achieve emission reduction goals by offering an inexpensive, renewable material for absorbing carbon dioxide.
• Economic Feasibility: Material prices are decreased by using widely accessible waste streams.
• Alignment With the Circular Economy: This process converts waste into a valuable resource.
• Versatile Uses: Activated carbon generated from shrimp has other uses outside carbon capture, including:
• Purification of the air and water
• Recovery of solvents
• Extraction of gold
• Medical procedures, including dialysis and medication distribution

According to Professor Chaouki Ghenai, this technique offers an effective and sustainable strategy that can be applied to various sectors, including steel, petrochemicals, cement, and power generation.

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Where This Technology Could Be Applied in the Future?

In Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) frameworks, the carbon product generated from shrimp waste has a wide range of applications. The following industries could use this technology:

• Power Generation: High-emission coal and gas plants.
• Cement Manufacturing: The cement industry is one of the most significant industrial sources of CO₂.
• Steel Production: Another industry with a high carbon footprint is steel production.
• Petrochemicals: In the petrochemical industry, emission capture is essential to achieving sustainability objectives.

Additionally, this material may help develop new technologies for urban air purification and direct air capture (DAC) systems due to its reusability and adsorption strength.

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Final Thoughts

The innovative work of the University of Sharjah demonstrates how shrimp waste, which is often overlooked as a problem, can be utilized to address two pressing global issues: waste management and climate change mitigation. The researchers have laid the groundwork for future advancements in sustainable carbon capture technology by developing a reliable method to convert waste shells into activated carbon for CO₂ capture.

This innovation exemplifies the strength of the circular economy concept, which transforms waste into valuable resources rather than discarding it. In addition to providing financial and environmental benefits to various sectors, shrimp-waste-based carbon capture has the potential to play a significant role in global carbon reduction initiatives if it is widely implemented.

Also Read: Global Recycling Rates Decline For Eighth Consecutive Year Amid Rising Consumerism And Economic Growth

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why is this technique considered sustainable?

It helps mitigate climate change by reducing seafood waste, preventing landfill pollution, and producing a high-value carbon product that absorbs CO₂.

Q2. How scalable is the process for industrial use?

The researchers created the approach to be both flexible and economical. Scalability is feasible because millions of tons of shrimp waste are available worldwide.

Q3. Can this technology completely replace conventional carbon capture materials?

Although promising, carbon generated from shrimp is anticipated to supplement traditional methods rather than entirely replace them. Its affordability, sustainability, and compatibility with the objectives of the circular economy are its strongest points.

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