Ultra-high surface area carbon from shrimp and plastic waste for Cd(II) remediation: Batch studies and advanced fixed-bed modelling
Haif ALJOMARD, Alaa ABUSHAWISH, Ismail W. ALMANASSRA, Abdallah D. MANASRAH, Muataz Ali ATIEH, Abdul Wahab MOHAMMAD, Sofiah HAMZAH
Abstract. Global water security is increasingly challenged by the combined burden of heavy metals, organic pollutants, and plastic waste, with cadmium Cd(II) representing one of the most persistent and hazardous contaminants. In this work, a novel activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from black tiger shrimp waste (BTSW) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The resulting biochar was acid-treated with HCl and subsequently activated with KOH at a 1:1 ratio at 800 ℃, yielding an ultrahigh surface area of 3,328 m2/g with a well-developed porous structure confirmed by comprehensive physicochemical characterizations (BET, PSD, XPS, XRD, FESEM/ EDS, FT-IR, and pHpzc). Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 22.3 mg/g with rapid kinetics reaching equilibrium within 60 min. Equilibrium data were best fitted by the Redlich–Peterson model, indicating a mixed adsorption process with both homogeneous and heterogeneous site contributions. Thermodynamic analysis revealed the adsorption to be endothermic, with slightly enhanced uptake at higher temperatures. Fixed-bed column experiments combined with advanced dynamic modelling across varying bed heights, flow rates, and inlet concentrations provided valuable insights into real-time application, confirming favourable transport dynamics and efficient column utilization. Importantly, the AC exhibited excellent reusability, retaining over 90% of its initial capacity after five adsorption–desorption cycles. Overall, the conversion of shrimp and PET waste into high-performance activated carbon not only provides a sustainable route for plastic and biomass valorisation but also contributes to advanced water purification technologies, offering a promising strategy for global water security.
Keywords
Shrimp Waste Valorisation, Fixed-Bed Column, PET Plastic Upcycling, Cd(II) Sequestration, Breakthrough Curve
Published online 6/20/2026, 6 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Haif ALJOMARD, Alaa ABUSHAWISH, Ismail W. ALMANASSRA, Abdallah D. MANASRAH, Muataz Ali ATIEH, Abdul Wahab MOHAMMAD, Sofiah HAMZAH, Ultra-high surface area carbon from shrimp and plastic waste for Cd(II) remediation: Batch studies and advanced fixed-bed modelling, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 67, pp 642-647, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904176-86
The article was published as article 86 of the book Climate Action and Sustainability
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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