Use of shrimp shell for adsorption of metals present in surface runoff Aline Schuck Rech, Julio Cesar Rech, Jakcemara Caprario, Fabiane Andressa Tasca, María Ángeles Lobo Recio and Alexandra Rodrigues Finotti ABSTRACT This research analyzes the use of natural shrimp shell and commercial chitin for biosorption of metal ions in surface runoff. Investigation of the use of these biosorbent materials in drainage systems becomes a management measure for two extremely important issues in Brazil, fish waste management and the surface runoff quality. Methodological procedures involved treatments with different amounts of unprocessed shrimp shell and commercial chitin (5 g and 10 g) for 200 mL of a compensatory drainage mechanism (infiltration swale). The contact time of biosorbent and runoff was 24 h and removal of metal ions Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cr was studied. Tests with unprocessed shrimp shell showed high concentrations of metallic ions (Pb, Ni, and Cu) causing contamination of the environment. However, the two biosorbents presented good removal of specific metallic ions (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cr). These results indicate the need for a biosorbent pre-treatment prior to full-scale use. We indicate the need for a more detailed investigation of water quality in the environment used for shrimp farming. Tests with commercial chitin presented satisfactory results for two concentrations tested. Tests with 10 g of commercial chitin allowed removal of all tested metal ions (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr) with removal percentage between 6.7% and 84.4%. This efficiency may be related to the chitin’s composition (shrimp, crustaceans, and crab) and to the chemical process applied to the product prior to commercialization. Aline Schuck Rech (corresponding author) Julio Cesar Rech Jakcemara Caprario Fabiane Andressa Tasca María Ángeles Lobo Recio Alexandra Rodrigues Finotti LAUTEC – Urban Stormwater and Compensatory Techniques Laboratory, Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Delfino Conti Street, s/n – Trindade, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil E-mail: aline.schuck@unc.br Key words | heavy metals, shrimp shell, surface runoff INTRODUCTION Socioeconomic development has transformed preserved areas into large urban centers. This rapid development reflects the increase in surface runoff, resulting in environ- mental impacts such as erosion, silting, flooding and reduction of groundwater recharge. Besides that, surface runoff may be contaminated by anthropogenic contami- nants, which reach various receiving waters such as streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans. These problems combined with a lack of government planning result in degradation of surface and groundwater resources, as well as the destruction of soil biodiversity (Tassi et al. ; Schuck et al. ). In this way, this type of urban develop- ment proves to be inadequate for the conservation of water resources and stormwater management (SWM). It is being studied worldwide (Stephenson ). Due to the multiple challenges posed by increasingly stringent and expensive environmental regulations, aging infrastructure, demographic changes, degraded rivers, cli- mate change and flood protection, many cities around the world have faced complex problems with supply of drinking water, collection and treatment of sewage and stormwater (Tasca et al. ). Measures aimed at preserving, restoring and creating spaces to compensate for the effects of urbaniz- ation are of great relevance among researchers (Fletcher et al. ). Therefore, it is imperative to manage efficiently urban stormwater runoff in order to reduce urbanization impacts. Several solutions for SWM are adopted and applied worldwide; depending on the region, the technique has different names. In this paper, the concept adopted is 2221 © IWA Publishing 2019 Water Science & Technology | 79.12 | 2019 doi: 10.2166/wst.2019.213 Downloaded from http://iwaponline.com/wst/article-pdf/79/12/2221/620196/wst079122221.pdf by guest on 01 July 2022