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EFFECT OF pH ON THE COAGULATION EFFICIENCY OF POLYAMIDE MICROPLASTICS USING CHITOSAN DERIVED FROM MUD CRAB SHELLS
Summary
Scientists made a natural water treatment substance from crab shells (a seafood waste product) and used it to filter out tiny plastic particles called microplastics—the same kind found in synthetic fabrics that can end up in our water supply. When the water was slightly acidic, this crab-shell material removed over 91% of the plastic particles, suggesting an eco-friendly, low-cost way to help keep microplastics out of our drinking water in the future. More research is needed before this method reaches your tap, but it's a promising step toward reducing microplastic exposure using waste we'd otherwise throw away.
This study investigates the effect of pH on the coagulation performance of polyamide (PA) microplastics using chitosan derived from mangrove crab shell (Scylla serrata) as a natural coagulant. Chitosan was synthesized through demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation processes and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The degree of deacetylation (DD) obtained was 81.15%, indicating successful conversion of chitin to chitosan. Coagulation experiments were conducted at pH 1–9 to determine the optimum condition. The results showed that pH significantly influenced the removal efficiency, with the highest efficiency achieved at pH 5 (91.9%), followed by a slight decrease at neutral and alkaline conditions. The lower efficiency at extreme acidic and basic conditions was attributed to suboptimal interaction between chitosan and microplastic particles. These findings demonstrate that chitosan derived from crab shell waste is an effective and environmentally friendly coagulant for polyamide microplastic removal, with optimal performance under mildly acidic conditions.