Modelling the kinetics of crab shell demineralization

Abstract

Results are presented of an investigation of the effects of crab shell composition, mass, area, volume and thickness and exposure conditions of inorganic acid concentration and temperature on the rate and duration of alkaline earth carbonates dissolution in the context of a “shrinking core” kinetic model which is experimentally validated. Shell thickness is shown to be the dominant determinant of the duration of the dissolution period which is otherwise independent of shell dimensions and varies inversely with the concentration of acid at low levels becoming progressively less influential as its concentration is raised. The impact of operating temperature and the merits of stepwise rather than single acid dosage are discussed.