Optimum Condition for the Production of N-acetylglucosamine from Tiger Shrimp Shells using Semi Pure Extracellular Chitinase Enzyme Produced by Mucor circinelloides

Chitin is a biodegradable polysaccharide, commonly found in shrimp shells and further processed into its derivatives, such as glucosamine that is extensively used in dietary supplements for the treatment of osteoarthritis, knee pain and back pain. This research was conducted to determine the optimum pH, temperature, substrate concentration and fermentation time for semi pure extracellular chitinase enzyme from Mucor circinelloides to be used in N-acetylglucosamine production. The optimum pH was determined at different pH of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and optimum temperature was determined at 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80°C by measuring chitinase activity. Substrate concentration varies from 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% and fermentation time varies from 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours were used to determine the optimum condition for N-acetylglucosamine production. Results showed that optimum pH of extracellular chitinase enzyme produced by Mucor circinelloides with colloidal chitin as a substrate was 8 with chitinase activity of 5.76 ± 0.17 U/ml and optimum temperature was 50°C with chitinase activity of 6.78 ± 0.13 U/ml. The optimum substrate concentration of extracellular chitinase enzyme with chitin as substrate was 1.5% chitin with concentration of N-acetylglucosamine produced of 1285.73 ± 66.19 ppm and the optimum fermentation time was 2 hours with concentration of N-acetylglucosamine produced of 1322.71 ± 45.43 ppm.