Cooked Shrimp Heads and Shell Dewatering Screw Press, Gujarat, India

Cooked Shrimp Heads and Shell Dewatering Screw Press

Shrimp Head and Shell Dewatering – Post-Hydrolysis Processing for Enhanced Efficiency

In the marine by-product processing industry, shrimp heads and shells are often considered a rich yet challenging material to work with. These parts, although nutritionally dense, are high in moisture and contain a gelatinous, slimy exterior, making handling and downstream processing difficult. However, when processed correctly, they can be transformed into valuable inputs for chitin, chitosan, or even animal feed manufacturing. One of the most critical steps in this process is dewatering—a stage where a screw press plays an essential role.

Whole Heads – No Size Reduction or Chopping Required

In a recent project, we were tasked with dewatering whole shrimp heads and shells—with no prior size reduction, chopping, or grinding. The material was fed into the screw press directly after undergoing the client’s proprietary enzymatic hydrolysis treatment, designed to break down internal structures and prepare the material for efficient moisture removal.

Unlike many processes that rely on pre-chopping or mincing to improve dewatering efficiency, this setup preserved the whole structure of the shrimp heads. This made the project particularly unique, as it demonstrated the screw press’s ability to handle relatively coarse and intact organic waste material—after adequate biochemical treatment.

Comparison: Raw vs. Treated Shrimp Heads

Prior to this full-scale operation, trials were conducted using raw, untreated shrimp heads. While the press was able to extract some moisture, the results were not optimal due to the slippery, slimy surface of the raw shrimp, which caused feeding inconsistencies and reduced squeezing efficiency.

In contrast, the hydrolyzed shrimp heads showed significantly better performance. The enzymatic treatment removed the slick outer coating and partially broke down internal fibers, enabling improved grip, compaction, and overall water removal. The material behaved more uniformly within the press and allowed the screw to develop greater backpressure—both essential factors for effective dewatering.

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DeWatering Screw Press

Strawberry Milkshake Output – Customer’s Ideal Consistency

One of the most visually distinct outcomes of the treated material was the nature of the pressate (liquid extracted from the shrimp heads). The output resembled a strawberry milkshake in color and consistency, which was precisely what the customer had targeted for their downstream application.

This consistency not only validated the success of the dewatering stage but also indicated the right level of cell breakdown and protein-liquid separation that their proprietary process aimed to achieve.

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Addressing Co-Rotation – Automation and Sensor Integration

During early trials, a degree of co-rotation was observed—where the entire shrimp mass began rotating along with the screw rather than being compressed against it. This was primarily due to the tough, fibrous nature of the whole heads and shells.

To overcome this challenge, we introduced a combination of automated control features and sensor-based adjustments, including:

Variable speed drives (VFDs) to adjust screw RPM in real-time
Load cell feedback for torque monitoring
Backpressure cone actuation sensors to automatically regulate counterpressure

This intelligent control system enabled the press to adapt to varying feedstock resistance and material behavior dynamically, thereby resolving the co-rotation issue and achieving a consistent and optimized dewatering performance.

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Conclusion: Efficient, Scalable, and Minimal Preprocessing

This project underscores the potential of using a dewatering screw press to handle whole shrimp heads and shells without size reduction, provided they are subjected to a suitable pre-treatment like hydrolysis. The ability to process coarse material efficiently, with minimal mechanical preprocessing, significantly reduces operational complexity and cost.

Combined with automation and real-time system feedback, the screw press proved to be a highly adaptable and effective solution for marine waste dewatering. As a result, the client was able to streamline their process, reduce energy usage in subsequent drying stages, and produce a value-added product with optimal consistency for further chitosan or feed-grade conversion.

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Cooked Shrimp Heads and Shell Dewatering Screw Press, Gujarat, India