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The impact of thermal treatment on comminution performance of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and South African abalone (Haliotis midae) shell waste
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614003126075392 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Lesofe, Ts’olo Ernest |
| author2 | Goosen, Neill |
| author_browse | Goosen, Neill Lesofe, Ts’olo Ernest |
| author_facet | Goosen, Neill Lesofe, Ts’olo Ernest |
| author_sort | Lesofe, Ts’olo Ernest |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description |
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131799 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:45:06.534Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131799 The impact of thermal treatment on comminution performance of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and South African abalone (Haliotis midae) shell waste Lesofe, Ts’olo Ernest Goosen, Neill Van Wyk, Petrie Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Chemical Engineering. Shellfish culture Waste products -- Recycling Thermal analysis UCTD Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Low-trophic species like molluscs have been integral to the human diet for centuries and are a promising option for aquaculture. However, industries such as mussel and abalone canning generate significant quantities of waste shells, often discarded into landfills or public water bodies, causing environmental issues like coastal pollution, foul odours, and sanitation challenges. Despite mussel and abalone shells containing up to 98% calcium carbonate—a valuable industrial resource—their extreme toughness, shaped by biomineralization, makes size reduction and valorisation through comminution processes difficult. Efficient recovery of calcium carbonate from these shells could reduce reliance on limestone mining, but existing methods are energy-intensive and under-optimized. This study aims to develop a processing strategy to improve the comminution performance of mussel and abalone shell waste into industrially ready calcium carbonate, reducing environmental impacts and dependence on limestone mining. The shells were roasted in a retort kiln at temperatures ranging from 300 °C to 480 °C and for times between 10 and 45 minutes, followed by ball milling for durations of 15 to 45 minutes. Optimal conditions for mussel shells were found at 400 °C for 25 minutes of roasting and 30 minutes of milling. Compositional analysis confirmed the safety of the material, with mussel and abalone shells containing 98.4% and 98.1% calcium carbonate, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that calcium carbonate decomposes into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide beyond 600 °C. Untreated shells could not achieve the target particle size of 0.5 mm for lime applications, with milling achieving a P80 of 2.1 ± 0.3 mm for mussel shells and 4.4 ± 0.5 mm for abalone shells. Roasting pretreatment was essential for altering shell structure, enabling improved comminution performance. The microstructural analysis demonstrated that the presence of aragonitic or calcitic calcium carbonate, along with organic content in the shells, strongly influences comminution efficiency. This study provides a foundation for designing energy-efficient processing strategies to valorise mollusc shell waste, offering an environmentally sustainable alternative for calcium carbonate production. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2025-03-25T13:14:22Z 2025-03-25T13:14:22Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131799 Stellenbosch University viii, 104 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Shellfish culture Waste products -- Recycling Thermal analysis UCTD Lesofe, Ts’olo Ernest The impact of thermal treatment on comminution performance of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and South African abalone (Haliotis midae) shell waste |
| title | The impact of thermal treatment on comminution performance of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and South African abalone (Haliotis midae) shell waste |
| title_full | The impact of thermal treatment on comminution performance of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and South African abalone (Haliotis midae) shell waste |
| title_fullStr | The impact of thermal treatment on comminution performance of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and South African abalone (Haliotis midae) shell waste |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of thermal treatment on comminution performance of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and South African abalone (Haliotis midae) shell waste |
| title_short | The impact of thermal treatment on comminution performance of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and South African abalone (Haliotis midae) shell waste |
| title_sort | impact of thermal treatment on comminution performance of blue mussel mytilus edulis and south african abalone haliotis midae shell waste |
| topic | Shellfish culture Waste products -- Recycling Thermal analysis UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131799 |
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