Micro/Nano Structural Investigation and Characterization of Mussel Shell Waste in Thailand as a Feasible Bioresource of CaO

Abstract

Mussel shell waste, which is regularly disposed by households, restaurants, markets, or farms, causes environmental problems worldwide, including in Thailand, because of its long decomposing time. Owing to a large amount of calcium (Ca) content from calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in mussel shell waste, many Thai local businesses grind the shell waste into powder and sell it as a source of Ca. Generally, these powdered waste shells are a mixture of various types of mussel shell waste. In this study, we investigated and characterized powdered mixed waste shells sold in a local Thai market (called mixed shell powder) and ground shells from waste green mussel shells (called green mussel shells) prepared in the laboratory after calcination at different temperatures (800 °C, 900 °C, and 1000 °C). Mixed shell powder containing five different types of mussel shells and green mussel shells were calcined for 2 h and 3 h, respectively. The time used for calcination of mixed shell powder and green mussel shells was different due to the different particle sizes of both shell wastes. We found that an optimal temperature of 1000 °C completely converted CaCO3 to CaO in both samples. The nanoscale size of CaO was detected at the surface of calcined shells. These shell wastes can be used as a bioresource of CaO.

Effect of Calcination Temperature on the Powder of Freshwater Snail Shells (Sulcospira testudinaria) Properties

“…We can also observe that some aragonite is in irregular small rod-shape. These structures have also been reported in previous studies [22,26,27]. The calcination process with 500 C shifts the morphology of the material due to water removal and organic impurities elimination.…”

Utilization of Bio-waste Mussel Shell as a Decoration Material on LiCoO2 Cathode

“…It has been reported in another study that the use of mussel shells after recycling has a significant effect on reducing fluorite pollution in nature (Kochan, 2020). The main composition of the mussel shell is calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ), but when heat treatment is applied at temperatures of 700 o C and above, CaCO 3 turns into calcium oxide (CaO) (Srichanachaichok et al 2023). In this study, we take the advantage of the high chemical resistance of calcium oxide by modifying the surface of LiCO 2 particles to decrease the electrolyteactive material interaction, and for the first time an additive material produced from mussel shells is used as a coating agent for electrodes.…”