Optimization of Chitin Extraction, Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Chitosan Production from Shells of Karamote Shrimp Peneaus (Melicertus) Kerathurus in Western Greece

This research aims to optimize by chemical methods the extraction of chitin and chitosan from shells of Karamote shrimp Peneaus (Melicertus) kerathurus . Shrimp waste can be used as source of high value compounds. Chitin is a major component of the exoskeleton of invertebrates and chemically is a linear polysaccharide of β (1→4) linked N-acetylglucosamine monomers. Chitosan is a deacetylated form of chitin having d-glucosamine repeating units linked by β (1-4) glycosidic bond. The extraction method uses different concentrations of sodium or potassium hydroxide in the deproteinization (protein separation) and deacetylation (remove acetyl groups) step and hydrochloric acid for demineralization (separation of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate) to yield optimum output. Among all experiments, results of 1.0 N solution of HCl for demineralization, 2 N for deproteination and 12.5 N NaOH solutions for deacetylation at solid to solvent ratio of 1: 15, clearly demonstrate a significant yield of chitin and chitosan. The results obtained from this study show also that the solubility of chitosan in 1% acetic acid solution achieved up to 90%.