Consumption and energy cost of the chitin production for removal of methylene blue

Abstract

Chitin has been obtained from shrimp residues for application in the environmental area. However, it is difficult to estimate the consumption of energy and its cost for chitin production due to the variety of methodologies used. Thus, this study selected two of the most cited methodologies, and used them as reference for obtaining chitin through four different treatments. Each change made in the equipment used, it was quantified the energy consumption and cost per equipment and process. The chitins produced were quantified in relation to process yield, and the product was tested as adsorbent of synthetic dye. The treatment (T4), chitin was obtained at room temperature, using Jar Test for agitation and only two drying steps of the material deserves to be highlighted as a possible process of obtaining chitin. This allowed a high yield (greater than 20%) and a greater percentage of removal of contaminant (around 60%), while having the lowest consumption (around 25 kWh) and energy cost (around R$ 14.2) for the process of obtaining a chitin with the quality required for the application for synthetic dye.