Transmission spectroscopy is the oldest and most commonly used method for identifying either organic or inorganic chemicals providing specific information on molecular structure and chemical bonding. In this study we used Attenuated Total Reflection – Fourier Transform (ATR FT) in the wavelength range of 4000-650 nm (ATR-FTIR) for carapace constituent composition analysis of two crayfish species: Astacus leptodactylus and Procambarus clarkia. Crayfish carapace is a highly efficient natural absorbent of heavy metals, whose absorption capacity is higher than some natural absorbents such as chitin, chitosan and like and synthetic absorbents usually employed to remove heavy metals from contaminated waste waters. Continuous exposure of crayfish to a low concentration of heavy metals may result in bioaccumulation, causing tissue changes. Since the crayfish carapace binding heavy metals shows a distinctive ATR-FTIR profile, we propose the feasibility of ATR-FTIR analysis to detect heavy metal environmental contamination.

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