Eco-Friendly Extraction, Optimization and Modification of Chitosanfrom Crustaceans Waste for Sustainable Application in Pakistan

Abstract

Shell waste from the sea food operations is one of the most significant problems causing serious risks to the environment and human health. The most frequent method employed for its disposal is burning which becomes environmentally costly due to low burning capacity of shells. In this instant
recycling of shrimp shell waste to chitosan would provide valuable product with many applications. Chitosan has obtained greater attention as a functional biopolymer. The anti-solvent precipitation method was used to modify chitosan and five carboxylic acids were used. The products were evaluated for changes in degree of deacetylation, solubility characterization. Chitosan derivative of chitin after the process of deacetylation has multiple of commercial and possible medical uses based on its degree of deacetylation. Therefore, this research was aimed to extract chitosan from shrimp shell waste and to study its characterization and modification. Results investigated that shrimp waste contained the highest moisture content (19%), fat (9.61%) and fiber (61%) while the chitosan contained negligible fat (0.02%), reduced protein (1.83%) and fiber (0.37%). Furthermore, bioactive properties of shrimp waste were also evaluated in which antioxidant activity observed in the range of 66.62- 74.52%, FRAP between 46.43-55.7mg/g and TPC from 1.79 to
2.72mgGAE/g extracted from different solvents. Additionally, modified chitosan observed increased degree of deacetylation with a decrease of viscosity. They also showed 70-80% solubilization at neutral pH because of the replacement of amino group with carboxylic group. Based on investigated results, chitosan could be used in edible films, food preservation and as an emulsifier in food industry