Application of Shrimp Waste for the Synthesis of Polyurethane–Chitosan Materials with Potential Use in Sorption of Oil Micro-Spills in Water Treatment

Agnieszka Piotrowska-Kirschling, Katarzyna Szelągowska-Rudzka, Jakub Karczewski and Joanna Brzeska
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Agnieszka Piotrowska-Kirschling: Department of Industrial Product Quality and Chemistry, Faculty of Management and Quality Science, Gdynia Maritime University, Morska Street 81-87, 81-225 Gdynia, Poland
Katarzyna Szelągowska-Rudzka: Department of Management and Economics, Faculty of Management and Quality Science, Gdynia Maritime University, Morska Street 81-87, 81-225 Gdynia, Poland
Jakub Karczewski: Advanced Materials Center, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza Street 11-12, 80-223 Gdańsk, Poland
Joanna Brzeska: Department of Industrial Product Quality and Chemistry, Faculty of Management and Quality Science, Gdynia Maritime University, Morska Street 81-87, 81-225 Gdynia, Poland

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Shrimp waste is a common waste in seafood processing. It is used as part of the fish meal which is added to feed. Bearing in mind the Green Deal and sustainability development, it was proposed to use northern prawn shells to obtain chitosan (Ch), which could then be used for polyurethane (PUR) modification. In ports, oil micro-spills often flow into the waters of gulfs and, consequently, into the sea. Systematic chemical and petroleum water pollution may pose a threat to flora and fauna. In this study, chitosan, which was obtained from shrimp shells, was used to synthesize polyurethane–chitosan foams (PUR+Ch) with different chitosan concentrations. Selected physico-chemical and sorption properties in relation to oil and water of these materials were determined. It was found that the amount of Ch added to the foam affected its morphology, hardness, density, and thermal and sorption properties. PUR foam with a 1.5% weight of Ch was characterized as having the highest water and oil sorption. The advantages of the tested material as an innovative product with potentially significant proecological values were estimated using strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–threats (SWOT) analysis. The conducted preliminary research made it possible to demonstrate the use of these materials in the processes of water treatment with the mentioned micropollutants.

Keywords: Green Deal; sustainable development; SWOT analysis; shrimp waste; chitosan; polyurethane foams; oil sorption; water sorption; eliminating pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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