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The heads of shrimp and other parts of the shell are rich in oxidising enzymes and lipases. (Photo: Stock File)
Shrimp discards purify blackwater
BRAZIL
Saturday, November 14, 2009, 01:50 (GMT + 9)
A team of scientists at the University of South Santa Catarina (Unisul) have discovered that shrimp heads, which are normally discarded by consumers, have large numbers of efficient enzimes to treat blackwater and industrial waste.
According to the experts of the Group of the Investigation of Enzymatic Catalysis and Organic Synthesis of Unisul, these enzymes are capable of absorbing the toxic substances in contaminated water.
The investigators verified that the shrimp heads and other parts of the shell are rich in oxidising enzymes and lipases, which can be used as an alternative to degrade contaminants in domestic and industrial blackwater, reports Ciencia Hoje.
According to the scientists, almost half of each kilogram of shrimp goes unconsumed.
“The study was born out of a necessity to find less costly and more efficient alternatives to remove toxic substances from contaminated water,” says Jair Juarez, one of the leaders of the project.
“Current methods have great disadvantages, such as high cost, poor efficiency and the creation of by-products, which are sometimes more harmful than the original substances,” said the Unisul chemist.
After this discovery, the scientists proposed developing a biological filter, which could be used to degrade toxic material in the environment.
This filter could absorb different toxic substances with ease in areas with contaminated water or in industrial treatment plants.
“The characteristics of the new enzymes will allow the development of more efficient and smaller treatment plants than at present, thanks to the vastly improved speed of the degradation of the of the contaminates,” said Juarez.
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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