Open Access

ARTICLE

Kinetics of the Demineralization Reaction of Deproteinized Lobster Shells Using CO₂

Miguel Ángel Ramírez¹, Luis Alfonso^†, Patricia González², Juan Reinerio Fagundo², Margaret Suarez³, Clara Melian³, Tania Rodríguez¹, Carlos Peniche^4,*

1 Scientifi c Technological Base Unit (UCTB) Los Palacios, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences (INCA), Mayabeque, Cuba
2 School of Chemistry, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba
3 Department of Radiochemistry, Higher Institute of Technologies and Applied Sciences (InSTEC), Havana, Cuba
4 Biomaterials Center (BIOMAT), University of Havana, Ave. Universidad SN e/ G y Ronda, Vedado, 10600 Havana, Cuba
† National Center for Scientifi c Research, Havana, Cuba. Died July 25, 2012. This work is dedicated to his memory

* Corresponding Author:

Journal of Renewable Materials 2015, 3(1), 73-80. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2014.634116

Received 17 June 2014; Accepted 04 August 2014;

Abstract

The demineralization kinetics of deproteinized lobster shells using CO₂ were studied. Demineralization reaction proceeds until the concentration of Ca⁺² in solution reaches an equilibrium value. The introduction of a cation exchange resin (cationite), in an open system for CO₂ , allows replacement of the solution Ca²⁺ ions by Na⁺ ions, whereby the equilibrium shifts and an effective dissolution of the exoskeletons’ calcite is achieved. The mathematical relationships between the conductivity of the solution and the concentrations of major ions, the rate constants and kinetic parameters of the reaction in the absence and presence of the resin were obtained. It was found that the reaction follows pseudo-fi rst-order kinetics, and the experimental results were in good agreement with the proposed mathematical model.

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