By using methyl orange
(MO) removal as a model reaction, the best
temperatures for processing eggshells are 750 °C and above to
obtain biobased CaO materials, a raw material for producing CuCa hydroxy
double salt (HDS) materials with high efficiency in treatments of
highly polluted wastewater (the initial concentration of MO is 500
ppm). Characterization techniques employed in this study include power
X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric
analysis, nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis, and the
colorimetric method, as well as energy-dispersive X-ray, infrared-,
and electron spin resonance spectroscopies. Complete MO removal and
high chemical oxygen demand (COD) efficiencies (>90%) can be achieved
after 3 min treatments of the aqueous MO with the calcined eggshell-derived
CuCa HDS materials. The spent, deactivated HDS materials can be regenerated
by an acid wash method. The activity of CuCa HDS materials in MO removal
is unaffected by eggshell sources, implying that sorting steps may
be unnecessary when eggshell food waste (duck, quail, and hen eggshells)
is collected to produce biobased CaO. The findings of this study demonstrated
that eggshells can be used in place of limestone and could be a more
sustainable, renewable, and cost-effective source for material development
and other applications.