Research Proposal

Research Title: Nano-Chitosan Coated Sand – A Sustainable Super Adsorbent for the Removal of Heavy Metals and Dye
Stuff from Effluent.

Introduction
Chitosan is a modified natural carbohydrate polymer derived from the natural sources such as outer shell of marine life
(shrimp, crab), fungi, insects and some algae etc. Chemically chitosan is a fiber-like substance and a homo-polymer of ß-
(1→4)-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. It is a non-toxic, biodegradable polymer which is utilized in pharmaceuticals,
biochemistry, biotechnology, cosmetic, biomedical, paper, food and textile industries. Chitosan can act as a bio-adsorbent
because of it chelate forming property [1]. At nano level the adsorption capacity of chitosan increases significantly because
of the increase in surface area. Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral
particles. The most common constituent of sand is silica. Sand has also a capacity to adsorb heavy metal and dye. The heavy
metal and dye adsorption by sand can be illustrated on the basis of the interaction between surface functional group of
silicates (sand) and the metal ions and dye compounds. The untreated effluents comes from different industries are
hazardous for environment. For this reason effluents must be treated. The treatment of effluent comes from
different types of industry can be categorized into primary, secondary and tertiary treatment process. These
included filtration, flocculation, adsorption, chemical coagulation, simple sedimentation, aerated lagoons, aerobic
activated sludge, trickling filters, reverse osmosis and electrodialysis. Adsorption is defined as the deposition of
molecular species onto the surface. The molecular species that gets adsorbed on the surface is known as adsorbate
and the surface on which adsorption occurs is known as adsorbent. Both chitosan and sand can be utilized as
adsorbent.
Chitosan can be prepared from the shrimp shell waste. Nano-chitosan can be prepared by ionic gelation method. Then the
surface activated sand can be coated with the chitosan nanoparticle to produce nano-chitosan coated sand. The resultant
nano-chitosan coated sand can be utilized for the removal of heavy metal and dye particle from the industrial effluent which
can be observed from the adsorption kinetics, equilibrium and adsorption mechanism, and the effects of modifications
and process parameters.

Objectives of the research

The research involve in the utilization shrimp shell waste to produce chitosan which will then be converted to chitosan
nanoparticle. The resultant chitosan nanoparticle will then coated on to the surface of the sand to get the final product known
as nano-chitosan coated sand. Then the final product will be utilized for the adsorption of heavy metal and dye stuffs at
different conditions to establish an optimum condition of adsorption. The adsorption capacity of chitosan, sand and nano-
chitosan will also be observed and compared with the adsorption capacity of nao-chitosan coated sand with the help
adsorption isotherm. The specific objectives of the research can be summarized into the following steps-
i. Preparation and characterization of chitosan from shrimp waste.
iii. Preparation and characterization of chitosan nanoparticle.
ii. Preparation and characterization of nano-chitosan coated sand.
iv. Adsorption study of dye and heavy metal using nano-chitosan coated sand.

Materials and Chemicals

Shrimp shell, HCl, NaOH, CH3COOH, sand, sodium tripolyphosphate will be collected and purchased.

Preparation of chitosan from shrimp waste

Shrimp shell will be first collected from the Mongla, Khulna and dried and crushed for the efficient extraction of chitosan.
The process of preparation of chitosan involved in 3 steps [2]; Demineralization (1N HCl, 5 h at 104℃), Deproteinization
(1N NaOH, 5 h at 104℃), and Deacetylation (40% NaOH, 4 h at 78℃). After these three consecutive chemical treatment
the obtained product will be chitosan.

Preparation of chitosan nanoparticles

Chitosan nanoparticle will be prepared by ionotropic sol-gel method [3]. Chitosan will be dissolved in 1% acetic acid
solution and 0.1% sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) will be added drop wise with the help of a syringe to the solution
maintaining pH 4.6-4.8 and Triton X100 will be used as a surfactant. After centrifuge at 5400 rpm for 30 min and re-
suspension, the product will be frieze dried.

Preparation of nano-chitosan coated sand

Nano-chitosan coated sand will be prepared according to Gupta et al. 2013. Activated sand with desired particle size will
be taken in 0.5% (by wt.) nano-chitosan solution and stirred overnight. After washing and drying the nano-chitosan coated
sand will be obtained [4].

Characterization of the products

Chitosan nano particles will be categorized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, DLS and SEM. On the other hand, heavy
metal and dye molecule adsorption by nano-chitosan coated sand will be carried out using AAS and UV-Vis spectroscopy
respectively.

Adsorption of dye and heavy metal

The standard solution of metal ions and dye will be prepared, taken inside a sealable glass vessel containing the adsorbent
and shaken in a shaker for 24 h at 200 rpm/min and at 25 ◦C. The mixed solution will be then centrifuged at 18,000 rpm and
4 ◦C for 60 min. Then the concentration of the treated solution is measured by UV-visible spectrophotometer.

Expected outcomes
The expected outcomes of the research can be summarized through the following steps-
i. Utilization of shrimp shell waste for the preparation and characterization of nano-chitosan and nano-chitosan
coated sand adsorbent.
ii. Comparative study on chitosan, sand and nano-chitosan coated sand as adsorbent.
iii. Development of the optimum condition for the adsorption of dye and heavy metal by this product.

Socio-economic contribution
Shrimp processing industries generate large amounts of shrimp bio-waste during processing, approximately 45-55% of the
weight of raw shrimp. Every year 30,000 tons of shrimp waste are dumped by shrimp processing industries of Bangladesh
[5]. This bio-waste can be used to produce value-added products such as chitosan. Bangladesh has been importing about
100-120 tons of chitin and chitosan annually, which approximately costs 1500 TK/per kg of chitosan. The shrimp shell
waste can be utilized in the production of chitosan which will save the cost of importation of chitosan. Furtherly this product
can be utilized in the production of nano-chitosan coated sand adsorbent. The risk factors industries are primarily associated
with the untreated effluent discharging to the environment which will pollute the environment. The research is about to
develop a sustainable super adsorbent from shrimp waste for the removal of heavy metals and dyes from the industrial
effluents. Which will be very helpful to prevent pollution caused by heavy metal and dye stuffs from industrial effluent in
our country by using nano-chitosan coated sand. The development of this product will help to treat industrial effluent
efficiently with lower cost and the final product can be exported to foreign country after fulfilling the requirement of our
country.

Refferences
1. Wan Ngaha, W.S., Teonga L.C., Hanafiaha M.A.K.M., Adsorption of dyes and heavy metal ions by chitosan
composites: A review, Carbohydrate Polymers, 83; 1446–1456, 2011
2. Hossain M. S. and Iqbal A., Production and characterization of chitosan from shrimp waste, J.Bangladesh Agril. Univ.,
12(1); 153–160, 2014.
3. Calvo P., Remunam-Lopez C., Vila-Jato J. L., and Alonso M. J., Novel Hydrophilic Chitosan–Polyethylene Oxiden
Nanoparticles as Protein Carriers, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 63; 125–132, 1997.
4. Gupta A., Yunus M., and Sankararamakrishnan N., Chitosan- and Iron−Chitosan-Coated Sand Filters: A Cost-Effective
Approach for Enhanced Arsenic Removal, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 52; 2066−2072, 2013.
5. Nowsad, A., End of Assignment Report-Marine Fish Processing and Product Development. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, Dhaka, 77 pp, 2005.