The potential use of shellfish shells as an ecofriendly and sustainable heavy metal biosorbent was investigated in conjunction with the development of an in-field XRF analysis protocol. The primary composition of marine mollusk shells are the polymorphs of CaCO3 (aragonite and calcite). The powders of these biogenic carbonates were assessed in their ability to remove Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ ions from contaminated water. Surface reflectance XRF, FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, in correlation with free in situ metal dissolution by ICP analysis, demonstrated that the biogenic sorbents displayed very high sorption capacities for these metal cations. Batch experiments were performed to determine the effects of exposure time, initial pH, and biosorbent grain size with relationship to biosorbative efficiency. Further use of XRF revealed that the shell bed must be recharged in order to be an effective treatment for surface biosorption capacity.

Field XRF monitoring of heavy metal Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ immobilization by fragmented and powdered shell beds from contaminated waters

255th National Meeting (2018)

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