Use of attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as a tool to determine effect of hot air-drying on yield (%) of chitin from crab integument

Abstract

Washing, hot air drying, mechanical grinding, and chemical treatments are used to extract chitin from the integument of crustaceans (crabs). Variable drying times are documented in the literature, but none of the publications correlate drying time to the percent yield of chitin from crab integument, therefore this investigation. The effects of hot air-drying duration on the percent yield of chitin from Ocypode Ryderi (Pink Ghost Crab) (found along the east coast of South Africa) are investigated in this study. The impact of hot air drying on intermolecular changes inside the crab integument was investigated. Using an Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy), the intermolecular interactions occurring within the crab integument with respect to hot air-drying period were observed. To cover a study gap, crab integument was dried at 0h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h, 6h, 7h, 8h, 9h,10h,11h, and 12h and extracted chitin at 0h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h, 6h, 7h, 8h, 9h, 10h, 11h, and 12h. The highest chitin output was found after 12 hours of hot air drying.