Assessment of the Efficacy of Shrimp Powder as a Coagulant in Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

This study evaluates the efficacy of shrimp shell powder as a coagulant in wastewater treatment, specifically targeting batik effluent. The primary aim is to compare the performance of shrimp shell powder to traditional alum in reducing key parameters such as Turbidity, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and color (pt-co) levels. The shrimp shells were rinsed, air dried, grounded. Jar tests were performed, and the effectiveness of coagulation tests was compared to the use of alum. In comparison to using shrimp shells powder at the prescribed dose of 25g of shrimp shell powder in milliliters of the effluent provided outstanding results (the mixture gives a slightly clear water) and alum at 20g. The effectiveness of shrimp powder and alum reduced turbidity by 37.22% and 44.49%, TSS by 25.35% and 37.98%, color 14.14% and 36.13% respectively. In contrast to alum, the shrimp shell powder increases the pH due to the presence of alkaline elements (Calcium 45.0 wt%, Magnesium 15.3 wt%, and sodium 2.0wt%) and also increased the electrical conductivity which reduced the removal efficiency by -1.30% because of the presence of high Calcium content (45.0 wt%) Calcium ions have a high charge density, making them effective at carrying electrical charge. The experimental results indicate that shrimp shell powder substantially diminishes these parameters, underscoring its potential as an environmentally friendly and sustainable substitute for conventional coagulants. The results show that shrimp shell powder works like alum and could be a good way to make water treatment technologies less harmful to the environment. Using shrimp shell powder could also help turn waste into something useful by turning a byproduct of the seafood business into something valuable. This study paves the way for more research aimed at optimizing the utilization of shrimp shell powder in extensive water treatment applications, highlighting its potential for sustainable and efficient wastewater management