<br/><br/>This study demonstrates the use of loofah fibers, originating from the luffa vegetable, for the recovery of ammonium nutrients in aquaculture. Ammonium contamination in recirculating aquaculture systems has been an ongoing challenge due to the energy-intensive steps for nitrogen removal. In order to remediate ammonium contamination in an energy-efficient manner, it is necessary to develop a cost-effective and sustainable approach. For this purpose, carboxycellulose nanofibers were extracted from loofah fibers through a simple nitro-oxidation process (NOP) using nitric acid/sodium nitrite (all fertilizer ingredients) as reagents. NOP allows the conversion of untreated (raw) loofah fibers into a negatively charged scaffold with abundant carboxylate groups. The microporous and negatively charged loofah scaffold after the NOP treatment allows the removal and recovery of positively charged ammonium impurities through electrostatic interaction. The structural integrity and microstructure of loofah ease its handling and operation, also the ammonium-adsorbed scaffold can be used as a fertilizer. The modified loofah scaffold was characterized by FTIR, WAXD and SEM, along with the determination of the carboxylate concentration. Additionally, the performance of the modified loofah against the ammonium impurities was compared with the activated biochar.

Nitro-oxidation modification of loofah biomass for recovery of ammonium nutrient in aquaculture

ACS Spring 2022

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