Highlights

• Shrimp waste converted into activated carbon with strong CO₂ capture performance.
• University of Sharjah researchers develop low-cost carbon capture method using discarded shrimp shells, heads, and intestines.

Researchers at the University of Sharjah have discovered a way to turn shrimp waste into a valuable material that can capture carbon dioxide (CO₂).

The seafood industry throws away millions of tonnes of shrimp, lobster, and crab shells every year, and most of it ends up as waste. By using this discarded material, scientists can address the waste management problem and the issue of climate change.

The process involves several steps. First, the shrimp shells, heads, and intestines are collected, cleaned, and dried. Then they undergo pyrolysis, a method of heating waste without oxygen to create biochar. This biochar is then treated with acid, chemical activation, and ball milling to produce activated carbon.

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Activated carbon has a porous structure and high surface area, making it very effective at adsorbing CO₂ from the air. The material also shows long-term stability, meaning it can be reused across multiple adsorption–desorption cycles.

The team led by Dr. Haif Al-Jomard and Professor Chaouki Ghenai highlighted that the method is sustainable and cost-effective. The new carbon material could be applied in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) industries, such as power generation, cement, steel, and petrochemicals. Beyond CO₂ capture, this activated carbon can also be used in air and water purification, solvent recovery, gold extraction, and medical applications.

This approach fits well with the principles of the circular economy, which focuses on reducing waste and making the most out of existing resources. Instead of discarding shrimp waste, it is valorised (turned into something valuable) and converted into a product that contributes to climate change mitigation.

The researchers stress that this is a scalable solution that could work on a large scale, offering environmental and economic benefits at the same time.

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On the whole, the study shows that shrimp waste is not just a by-product of the seafood industry but can be transformed into a carbon capture material. This breakthrough offers a new pathway for sustainable carbon capture technologies, enabling the simultaneous reduction of waste pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

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Source: EINPresswire