Issue 01 May 2014 www.stowurc.co.uk

1

Editorial:

The project started in

December 2013, &

has begun with the

supply of shells from

Kynance Cornish Crab

to C-Tech. In turn,

C-Tech have devised

a mechanical method

for breaking-up and

crushing the shells

are supplying this

material to Chestech

and Invotec for

experimental use.

At present experime-

nts are being cond-

ucted on three main

platforms:

1, Adsorptive capacity

of the bio-sorbents

2, Conversion of crab

shells into chitosan

3, Adsorptive ability

of the biosorbent in

PCB plant effluent.

Preliminary results

are positive and work

continues to produce

white papers for the

material validation &

chitosan preparation

procedures from crab

shells.

Welcome:

Welcome to the first STOWURC newsletter, designed to

keep you abreast of developments and innovations

created throughout the projects lifetime.

The STOWURC project along with the UK, strives to

produce a circular economy, where products are not

sent from cradle to grave but are designed for reuse,

adaption and recycling.

Within this project waste food by-products destined

for landfill are diverted and used to create a

biopolymer with the capability of removing metals,

organics and other pollutants from effluent.

The ability of the biopolymer to capture metal, deposit

it, and then be washed and reused creates the

backbone for the project design and inspiration.

Technology Strategy Board Co-Funded Project #: 101692

#: 101692

Crab shell biosorbents to

recover metals from manufacturing

effluent

this issue

Welcome P.1

Initial Experiments P.2

Consortium Focus P.3

Dates for the Diary P.3

2

Crab Shells to

Chitosan: The plan to create

chitosan from crab

shells begins with the

shells being crushed.

The SEM image below

is a particle of crushed

shell.

Crushed material is

added to an acid bath

to remove calcium

carbonate, the primary

constituent of crab

shell. This is followed

by an alkali bath to

remove protein,

leaving only chitin, the

naturally produced

polymer present in

shells. A further alkali

solution is used to

deacetylate the chitin,

& finally a flaked

material - chitosan is

produced (below).

Preliminary experiments were

conducted at the start of the year, to

help understand the different

adsorptive abilities of crab shell,

chitin and chitosan. Four copper

solutions were prepared (5, 10, 25,

50 ppm) and the biosorbent materials

were added to each solution.

Results are presented in the graphs

below. The crushed crab shell removed

40% of Cu from solutions. However the

chitin removed between 70% of Cu, and

the chitosan removed >98% in all

solutions. These results demonstrate the

strong biosorbent ability of chitosan.

Positive results have been achieved from the

initial lab production of chitosan (presented

left), & potentially indicate an increased rate

of Cu adsorption compared to purchased

chitosan flakes.

Initial Experiments & Preliminary Results

0

20

40

0 10 20 30

Cu

Con

centr

ati

on

(pp

m)

Time (min)

Purchased

Lab

3

Consortium Focus:

The Surface Engineering

Association (SEA) represents

the interests of companies

across the whole of the

surface engineering sector

from precious metal

electroplating through to

high-tech aerospace

applications and can trace its

beginnings back to 1887. The

SEA itself was formed in 1997

by the amalgamation of the

Metal Finishing Association

(MFA) and the British Surface

Treatment Suppliers

Association (BSTSA). They

were joined in 1999 by the

Paint & Powder Finishing

Association (PPFA), in 2000 by

the Contract Heat Treatment

Association (CHTA) and in

2005 by the Wolfson Heat

Treatment Centre (WHTC).

Apart from promoting

members’ services, the SEA is

the voice of the sector to the

Government at both a

National and European level.

We have representation on

many influential committees

and are regularly consulted

on proposed legislation that

may impact on our sector.

The SEA is headed by David

Elliott, who takes overall

responsibility for the day-to-

day running of the

Association. He liaises with

the National Committee (who

develop the overall strategy

for the Association), EU and

UK Government departments,

and our European Association

CETS, the European

Committee for Surface

Treatment. David is currently

President of CETS and has

nearly 40 years experience in

the surface engineering and

manufacturing sectors. He is

a Chartered Environmentalist

and a Fellow of the Institute

of Materials, Minerals &

Mining.

4

Featured UK

Crab:

Cancer

Pagarus

Commonly known as

the brown or edible

crab, it is the most

famous species in

the UK. The crab has

a pie crust like

detailing around the

shell & brown

/orange colouring.

These crabs are

found in the North

Sea, North Atlantic,

Mediterranean Sea &

Black Sea.

They grow to ca. 25

cm & are permitted

within the EU to be

caught, once they

reach a mature size.

The STOWURC

project will be

utilizing the waste

shells from these

crabs to produce

chitosan.

Upcoming Relevant Events:

Biopolymers Symposium 2014

Industry uses, innovative materials

and plastic free polymers

http://www.biopolymersummit.com/home.aspx

Celox: Use of chitosan flakes for

blood clotting on severe bleeds, in

humans & animals. Chitosan

flakes swell, & form a gel like clot.

http://www.celoxmedical.com/int/

Dungeness Environmental:

Chitosan products (from crab and

shrimp) used for inline treatment

at storm-water plants.

www.dungenessenviro.com/?source=cen

Upcoming Project Dates:

Quarter 2 Meeting – D10 Pretreatment Procedures –

Kynance, June 2014 Completion of D10, Sept 2014

D12 Material Validation Trials – Quarter 3 Meeting –

Completion of D12, July 2014 Invotec, September 2014

Websites:

ChiBio: Production of high grade

novel bio-based polymers with high

atom-efficiencies for multiple uses,

& manufactured from crab shells.

http://www.chibiofp7.fraunhofer.de/index.html

NanoLetters: Utilizing chitin-protein

fiber structures in crab shells as a

bio-template for battery electrodes.

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nl401729r?

source=cen