Combination of Shrimp Chitosan and Moringa oleifera Seed Powder as Natural Bioadsorbents for Reducing Copper (Cu) Concentration

Abstract

Copper (Cu) contamination in aquatic environments requires effective control because Cu is essential at low concentrations but toxic at high levels. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of shrimp chitosan and Moringa oleifera seed powder as natural bioadsorbents for reducing Cu concentrations and to determine the most effective composition. The study employed a laboratory experimental method with four treatments and three replications, namely P0 (control), P1 (2 g/L chitosan + 2 g/L M. oleifera), P2 (3 g/L chitosan + 1 g/L M. oleifera), and P3 (1 g/L chitosan + 3 g/L M. oleifera). Cu concentrations were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), while the data were analysed using analysis of variance followed by Duncan’s test at a 95% confidence level. The results showed that the combination of both bioadsorbents significantly reduced Cu concentrations. The highest Cu concentration was observed in the control (18.57 ± 0.14 mg/L), whereas the lowest was recorded in P3 (3.17 ± 0.07 mg/L). Removal efficiency increased from 58.79 ± 0.40% (P1), 71.63 ± 0.34% (P2), to 82.98 ± 0.34% (P3). Therefore, P3 was the most effective composition.