Dolfie P. Pandara, Kawilarang W. A. Masengi, Gerald H. Tamuntuan, Ping A. Angmalisang, Audy D. Wuntu, Ferdy Ferdy, Maria D. Bobanto, Armstrong F. Sompotan
The challenge of accessing clean and potable water due to the increase in human population, economy, and development, as well as global warming, poses a global concern. Solar-powered seawater desalination using photothermal substances appears as a promising environmentally friendly solution. The development of these materials as decayed aquatic samples is very significant. Indonesia produces various marine wastes in large quantities, including fish scales, and the potential conversion into photothermal materials is analyzed by the characterization of the physical and chemical features. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the physicochemical properties of fish scales using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-VIS spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy scanning (SEM). Carbon, oxygen, calcium, and phosphorus served as the primary elements in the waste samples. Characterization of the functional group bonds showed collagen and hydroxyapatite as the main mineral components. These constituents naturally exhibit photothermal phenomena under ultraviolet light irradiation and are also amorphous, with the capacity to increase the crystallinity during pyrolysis. Based on the characterization results, fish scales contain carbon in the mineral collagen and showed the unique transition of the orbitals π to π* carbonyl groups, which has the potential to be converted into photothermal material such as Carbon Nano Tubes (CNTs) or Carbon Nano Dots (CNDs) for seawater desalination processes. © 2022, BIOFLUX SRL. All rights reserved.
Physics Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Sam Ratulangi University, Kampus Bahu St, North Sulawesi, Manado, 95115, Indonesia; Marine Science Doctoral Study Program, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Sam Ratulangi University, Kampus Bahu St, North Sulawesi, Manado, 95115, Indonesia; Chemistry Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Sam Ratulangi University, Kampus Bahu St, North Sulawesi, Manado, 95115, Indonesia; Physics Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Manado State University, Kampus Bahu St, North Sulawesi, Tondano, 95618, Indonesia