You are on page 1of 12

CHITOSAN FROM BLUE CRAB

SHELL REDUCES SEVERAL HEAVY


METAL IN POLLUTED WATER
BETUTU SENGGAGAU
MANJA MEYKY BOND
Fish Disease and Environment Investigation
Center
Serang, Banten 42167
Indonesia

INTRODUCTION
Background
Heavy
metals
contaminations
in
aquaculture are big problems for human,
aquatic
animal
and
environmental.
Several heavy metals such as copper,
lead, and cadmium were a lot found in
polluted water. Amount of this compounds
are mostly above the maximum limit.

In order to treat heavy metal


contamination in polluted water,
there are many methods such as
photo-reduction,
ion-exchange,
sedimentation, and electrolysis to
solve these problems. But some of
methods are more expensive and
need a lot of energy.

Adsorption is an alternative method to reduce


heavy metal contamination in polluted water
that relatively easy and safe for environment.
One of the adsorbent from blue crab shell
called chitosan could adsorb dissolved heavy
metal ions. This material is easy to found in
market and not expensive. In order to
chemical
reactivity
and
emulsifier
characteristics, chitosan could be used in any
industry
application
such
as
addition
materials for cosmetics, food, and waste
water treatment. Utilization of chitosan from
blue crab shell as adsorbent is very simple
application in polluted water. This study aims
to observe the heavy metal adsorption by
chitosan.

MATERIAL AND METHODS


Materials in this study used chitosan in
powder form, 1000 mg/l standards solution
of copper, lead and cadmium, and free
mineral distilled water.
500 ml beaker glass, magnetic stirrer, and
pipette dispenser were also used. About 5
mg/l in 200 ml of copper, lead and cadmium
respectively
prepared
as
initial
concentration for artificial polluted water.

As adsorbent, chitosan were


added into artificial polluted water
by different concentration. There
were 0.1 g, 0.5 g and 1.0 g of
chitosan added and stirred 100
rpm during 30 minutes. Then,
filtered with filter paper and
analyzed with Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry (AAS) flame.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION


Table 1. Initial and final concentration
of copper (mg/l) and percentages of
chitosan adsorption
Chitosan
(g)

Initial Cu
(mg/l)

Final Cu
(mg/l)

%
Chitosan
adsorptio
n

0.1

5.000

3.548

29.04 %

0.5

5.000

1.344

73.12 %

1.0

5.000

0.545

89.10 %

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION


Table 2. Initial and final concentration
of lead (mg/l) and percentages of
chitosan adsorption
Chitosan
(g)

Initial Pb
(mg/l)

Final Pb
(mg/l)

%
Chitosan
adsorptio
n

0.1

5.000

2.453

50.94 %

0.5

5.000

1.100

78.00 %

1.0

5.000

0.179

96.42 %

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION


Table 3. Initial and final
concentration of cadmium (mg/l) and
percentages of chitosan adsorption
Chitosan
(g)

Initial Cd
(mg/l)

Final Cd
(mg/l)

%
Chitosan
adsorptio
n

0.1

5.000

3.592

28.16 %

0.5

5.000

1.376

72.48 %

1.0

5.000

0.328

93.44 %

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION


The results showed that
concentration of 1.0 g chitosan
powder reduced copper, lead, and
cadmium about 89.10%, 96.42% and
93.44% respectively in laboratory
scale. Chitosan could potentially
reduce
several
heavy
metals
contaminations in polluted water.

Economic value from


chitosan

THANKYOU

You might also like