A comprehensive characterization of chicken eggshell as a novel bioflocculant for biofloc harvesting in aquaculture wastewater

Wastewater treatment is a critical process for maintaining environmental sustainability. In recent years, natural sources have been explored for their potential in wastewater treatment. This study investigated the suitability of chicken eggshells as a bioflocculant for biofloc harvesting in aquaculture. The eggshells were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to determine their chemical composition and surface structure. Flocculation tests were conducted to assess the effectiveness of eggshell bioflocculants in removing suspended solids from aquaculture wastewater. The conditions for eggshell extraction and bioflocculant production were optimized, and the efficiency of the eggshell bioflocculant in removing suspended solids from aquaculture wastewater was achieved a flocculation efficiency of over 80% with a settling velocity of 3.9 × 10−4 ms−1. Results showed that eggshells contain a significant amount of calcium carbonate, which is responsible for their flocculating properties. Chicken eggshell exhibits significant potential for the formation of strong biofloc agglomerates, capable of retaining microbial cells on its surface through processes such as charge neutralization and polymer bridging. In conclusion, chicken eggshells represent a promising natural source for sustainable wastewater treatment, and their use as a bioflocculant for biofloc harvesting in aquaculture could provide a low-cost and eco-friendly solution to the problem of wastewater management. While these findings may have potential applications in other wastewater treatment. Therefore, further research is needed to address scalability, long-term effectiveness, and environmental impacts before widespread use.