Evaluation of Shrimp Shell Activated Carbon in Treating Latex Industry Wastewater

Rubber‐processing wastewater contains high levels of organic matter, suspended solids, and chemical additives that contribute significantly to water pollution and degrade aquatic ecosystems. Thus, this study investigates shrimp shell activated carbon (SSAC) as a low‐cost adsorbent for rubber‐processing wastewater. SSAC was produced through thermal and chemical (NaOH) activation, with FTIR confirming enhanced hydroxyl, amino and carbonyl functional groups responsible for biosorption. Treatment of raw effluent for 30 min reduced ammoniacal nitrogen (AN) by 92.5%, TSS by 78.8%, and Cu by 51.2%, while DO increased and BOD 5 decreased. Although pollutant levels improved significantly, pH, BOD 5 , and Cu remained above regulatory limits indicating the need for complementary treatment. Overall, SSAC demonstrates strong potential as a circular economy biosorbent for industrial wastewater.