(212a) Marine Exoskeleton-Based Biosorption of Heavy Metals: Performance and Cost Analysis

Heavy metals are extensively found within the natural environment contributing significantly to potable water pollution. Heavy metals are found in potable water because of industrial and agricultural activities, fossil-fuels combustion, volcanic activity, or mineral erosion. Although specific heavy metals are essential for human, animal, and plant metabolic needs, only small amounts are needed and exceeding these amounts can be toxic. As a result, the development of new water remediation technologies, especially for heavy metal removal from water, has been pronounced recently. Among the methods for metal ion removal, adsorption is one of the most reliable, robust, and hence prevalent. The technical feasibility and cost effectiveness of this process is highly related to the materials used. Crustacean shells, a waste from the seafood industry, have been identified as a viable material for the biosorption of lead, cadmium, chromium and zinc. This biomaterial is a low-cost alternative for water remediation. Its performance has been evaluated in batch experiments for heavy metals under pH, temperature, initial concentration, and time. Results demonstrate a removal efficiency of ~ 99.5% and for lead, 97.0% for zinc, 99.3% for chromium and 6.8% for cadmium. The results were compared with commercially available products and. In addition, a preliminary cost analysis of the material was performed obtaining an estimated of US$0.03/m³ of treated water with a minimum operation cost associated to the use of this material.