Search

Menu
Search
in Ecology

Transforming waste into worth: Procambarus clarkii carapace as a high-performance biosorbent for methyl red dye

87 Views


Abstract

Low-cost and sustainable biosorbents for the treatment of dye-containing wastewater are an area that needs to be addressed in the near future. In the present study, waste from the Procambarus clarkii, an invasive crayfish, was used as a potential biosorbent to remove methyl red dye from aqueous solutions. The waste was found to have a high adsorption capacity, with a maximum capacity of 14.39 mg/g under optimum conditions. The noteworthy aspect was that the biosorbent, with a relatively low surface area (19.13 m²/g), was able to remove 97% of the dye at pH 7 in 2 h, thus proving the importance of surface functional groups in the removal of the dye. The kinetics revealed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order equation. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the adsorption was a spontaneous and exothermic process. Regeneration experiments revealed that the Procambarus clarkii biosorbent retained about 70% and 50% of the original adsorption capacity after the second and third cycles, respectively. In conclusion, this study has shown that the carapace of P. clarkii is an environmentally friendly and economically viable biosorbent, which has the dual advantage of wastewater treatment and biological waste utilization.

Data availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

References

  1. El-Sawaf, A. et al. Fast in-situ synthesis of mesoporous Prussian blue-silica nanocomposite for superior silver ions recovery performance. J. Chem. Tech. Biotech. 99 (9), 1941–1954. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.7707 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fu, Y. et al. Preparation of carboxymethyl cellulose/graphene oxide/ZIF-8 aerogels for efficient methylene blue adsorption. Colloids Surf. A: Physicochem Eng. Asp. 696, 134338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.134338 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Younis, S. R. A., Abdelmotallieb, M. & Ahmed, A. S. A. Facile synthesis of ZIF-8@GO composites for enhanced adsorption of cationic and anionic dyes from their aqueous solutions. RSC Adv. 15 (11), 8594–8608. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA08890E (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Deogaonkar-Baride, S., Koli, M. & Ghuge, S. P. Recycling textile dyeing effluent through ozonation: An environmentally sustainable approach for reducing freshwater and chemical consumption and lowering operational costs. J. Clean. Prod. 510, 145641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145641 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Şenol, Z. M. et al. Removal of food dyes using biological materials via adsorption: A review. Food Chem. 450, 139398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139398 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Khosroshahi, N., Doaee, S., Safarifard, V. & Rostamnia, S. A comprehensive study about functionalization and de-functionalization of MOF-808 as a defect-engineered Zr-MOFs for selective catalytic oxidation. Heliyon (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31254

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zeng, H., Zhong, Y., Wei, W., Luo, M. & Xu, X. Combined exposure to microplastics and copper elicited size-dependent uptake and toxicity responses in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia). J. Hazard. Mater. 487, 137263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137263 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ardila-Leal, L. D., Poutou-Piñales, R. A., Pedroza-Rodríguez, A. M. & Quevedo-Hidalgo, B. E. A brief history of colour, the environmental impact of synthetic dyes and removal by using laccases. Molecules (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26133813

    Google Scholar 

  9. Yaseen, D. A. & Scholz, M. Textile dye wastewater characteristics and constituents of synthetic effluents: a critical review. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech. 16 (2), 1193–1226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-2130-z (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Shan, Z. et al. Selective capture and co-removal of anionic dyes with multi-metallic nanosheets: Superior properties and multi-sites synergistic mechanism. J. Water Process. Eng. 74, 107797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.107797 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Manzoor, M. H. et al. Wastewater treatment using Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs). Appl. Mater. Today. 40, 102358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmt.2024.102358 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wang, S. et al. Fabrication of dual-function Nanofilm incorporating hydrophobic conjugated main chains and hydrophilic side chains for water purification with adsorption/catalysis capabilities. Sep. Purif. Tech. 364, 132605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.132605 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Tolan, D. et al. Enhanced photocatalytic activity of (In–Sr–P) tridoped TiO2/Bi2O3 composite loaded on mesoporous carbon: A facile sol-hydrothermal synthesis approach. Mater. Chem. Phys. 322, 129570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2024.129570 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ariano, A. et al. Heavy metals in the muscle and hepatopancreas of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in Campania (Italy). Animals 11 (7). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11071933 (2021).

  15. Pastorino, P. et al. The invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) as a bioindicator of microplastic pollution: Insights from Lake Candia (northwestern Italy). Ecol. Ind. 150, 110200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110200 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Manfrin, A. et al. Cross-ecosystem effects of light pollution and invasive signal crayfish on riparian spiders. Global Ecol. Conserv. 60, e03577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03577 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Sun, X. et al. Effects of different fertilization patterns on the dietary composition of Procambarus clarkii in a rice-crayfish coculture system. Aquaculture Rep. 33, 101801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2023.101801 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  18. El-Sawy, M. F. et al. Polyculture of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and the Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) Under Various Conditions in the ASTAF-Pro Aquaponic System. Egypt. J. Aquat. Biology Fisheries. 28 (2), 903–914. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejabf.2024.351927 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Dawood, S. & Sen, T. K. Removal of anionic dye Congo red from aqueous solution by raw pine and acid-treated pine cone powder as adsorbent: Equilibrium, thermodynamic, kinetics, mechanism and process design. Water Res. 46 (6), 1933–1946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2012.01.009 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ezquerro, L. et al. Large dinosaur egg accumulations and their significance for understanding nesting behaviour. Geosci. Front. 15 (5), 101872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2024.101872 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Nishi, L. et al. Low-Cost Adsorbents for Water Treatment: A Sustainable Alternative for Pollutant Removal. Processes 13 (12), 4088. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13124088 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Güleç, F. et al. Exploring the Utilisation of Natural Biosorbents for Effective Methylene Blue Removal. Appl. Sci. 14 (1), 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010081 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Molebatsi, M., Nkoane, B., Keroletswe, N., Chigome, S. & Kabomo, M. T. The Use of Biosorbents in Water Treatment. Environ 12 (9), 302. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12090302 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Mensah, K., Mahmoud, H., Fujii, M., Samy, M. & Shokry, H. Dye removal using novel adsorbents synthesized from plastic waste and eggshell: mechanism, isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamics, regeneration, and water matrices. Biomass Convers. Biorefinery. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-03304-4 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hassan, S., Marwa, E. & Hesham, H. Nano activated carbon from industrial mine coal as adsorbents for removal of dye from simulated textile wastewater: operational parameters and mechanism study. J. Mater. Res. Tech. 8 (5), 4477–4488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2019.07.061 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Mallakpour, S. & Naghdi, M. Design and identification of poly(vinyl chloride)/layered double hydroxide@MnO2 nanocomposite films and evaluation of the methyl orange uptake: linear and non-linear isotherm and kinetic adsorption models. N J. Chem. 44 (16), 6510–6523. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0NJ01162B (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Langmuir, I. The adsorption of gases on plane surfaces of glass, mica and platinum. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 40 (9), 1361–1403. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja02242a004 (1918).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Askari, R. et al. Synthesis of activated carbon from cherry tree waste and its application in removing cationic red 14 dye from aqueous environments. Appl. Water Sci. 13 (4), 90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-023-01899-1 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Olusegun, S. J. & Mohallem, N. D. S. Comparative adsorption mechanism of doxycycline and Congo red using synthesized kaolinite supported CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. Environ. Pollut. 260, 114019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114019 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Maneerung, T. et al. Activated carbon derived from carbon residue from biomass gasification and its application for dye adsorption: Kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamic studies. Bioresour Technol. 200, 350–359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.10.047 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Liu, Y. et al. Enhanced adsorption removal of methyl orange from aqueous solution by nanostructured proton-containing δ-MnO2. J. Mater. Chem. A. 3 (10), 5674–5682. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TA07112C (2015).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Zhu, H. Y., Jiang, R., Xiao, L. & Zeng, G. M. Preparation, characterization, adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics of novel magnetic chitosan enwrapping nanosized gamma-Fe2O3 and multi-walled carbon nanotubes with enhanced adsorption properties for methyl orange. Bioresour Technol. 101 (14), 5063–5069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.01.107 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Althomali, R. H., Alamry, K. A., Hussein, M. A. & Guedes, R. M. An investigation on the adsorption and removal performance of a carboxymethylcellulose-based 4-aminophenazone@MWCNT nanocomposite against crystal violet and brilliant green dyes. RSC Adv. 13 (7), 4303–4313. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2RA07321H (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Şenol, Z. M., Arslanoğlu, H., Keskin, Z. S., Mehmeti, V. & El Messaoudi, N. Biosorption of rhodamine B and sunset yellow dyes on cross-linked chitosan-alginate biocomposite beads: Experimental and theoretical studies. Int. J. Biol. Macromolec. 298, 139264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139264 (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Neolaka, Y. A. B. et al. Adsorption of methyl red from aqueous solution using Bali cow bones (Bos javanicus domesticus) hydrochar powder. Results Eng. 17, 100824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2022.100824 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Teweldebrihan, M. D. & Dinka, M. O. Methyl red adsorption from aqueous solution using rumex abyssinicus-derived biochar: studies of kinetics and isotherm. Water 16 (16), 2237. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162237 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Dawadi, K. B., Bhattarai, M. & Homagai, P. L. Adsorptive Removal of Methyl Red from Aqueous Solution using Charred and Xanthated Sal (Shorea robusta) Sawdust. Amrit Res. J. 1 (1), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.3126/arj.v1i1.32451 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Sayed, N. S. M., Ahmed, A. S. A., Abdallah, M. H. & Gouda, G. A. ZnO@ activated carbon derived from wood sawdust as adsorbent for removal of methyl red and methyl orange from aqueous solutions. Sci. Rep. 14 (1), 5384. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55158-7 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

Open access funding provided by The Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) in cooperation with The Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment Science Department, Faculty of Sugar and Integrated Industries Technology, Assiut University, Assiut, 71516, Egypt

    Rofaida. F. H. Darweesh & Remon M. Zaki

  2. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, Egypt

    Abdelaal S. A. Ahmed

  3. Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, Egypt

    Aldoshy Mahdy

  4. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assuit, Egypt

    Remon M. Zaki

Authors

  1. Rofaida. F. H. Darweesh
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdelaal S. A. Ahmed
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Remon M. Zaki
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Aldoshy Mahdy
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Rofaida. F. H. Darweesh: Perform the experimental work, writing first draft. Remon. M. Zaki: Review & supervision. Aldoshy. Mahdy: review & supervision. Abdelaal S. A. Ahmed: Writing, review & editing, supervision. The manuscript was reviewed by all the authors before communication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to
Abdelaal S. A. Ahmed.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary Material 1 (download DOCX )

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Darweesh, R.F.H., Ahmed, A.S., Zaki, R.M. et al. Transforming waste into worth: Procambarus clarkii carapace as a high-performance biosorbent for methyl red dye.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44037-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44037-y

Keywords


  • Procambarus clarkii
  • Anionic dye
  • Adsorption
  • Biosorbent
  • Water treatment

Source: Ecology - nature.com

Genetic diversity and phylogeography of Chimaera monstrosa (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Mediterranean Sea: insights from COI mitochondrial DNA analysis

New host record of Amblyomma pakhtunensis on the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) with detection of a distinct Borrelia lineage

This portal is not a newspaper as it is updated without periodicity. It cannot be considered an editorial product pursuant to law n. 62 of 7.03.2001. The author of the portal is not responsible for the content of comments to posts, the content of the linked sites. Some texts or images included in this portal are taken from the internet and, therefore, considered to be in the public domain; if their publication is violated, the copyright will be promptly communicated via e-mail. They will be immediately removed.

Back to Top
Close