Comparative study on the composition and functional properties of chitin/chitosan extracted by new combined bioprocess

Abstract

Bio-extraction of chitin is a greener and eco-friendly process than the conventional chemical method. Taking shrimp waste of Pandalus borealis recovered from plant as a model, two methods were applied for chitin extraction; a chemical and a yeast-based processes (Ch-C and Ch-B respectively). The recovered chitins and chitosan were tested for their biochemical and functional properties. Compared to commercial chitin, both lots, have similar chitin recovery (~26%) and physiochemical properties with ash<1%, protein <10%, with degrees of acetylation (DA) varying 70-80%. However, chitosan obtained from Ch-B lot showed significantly lower molecular weight (MW) and DA (MW: 6.34 KDa, DA: 23.4%) than that found in Ch-C chitosan (MW: 11.36 KDa, DA: 33.4%). The new method proved to be efficient for the production of chitosan of good quality which allowed the elaboration of the membrane.