Chitin Extraction from Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) Waste using Organic Acids

Abstract

In chitin extraction from black tiger shrimp shell waste, HCl is the commonly used decalcifying agent. However, it is considered a harsh chemical. An alternate was found by using organic acids. Conditions for deproteinization were: 1 M NaOH at 95°C for 6 h and solid‐to‐solvent ratio of 1∶15 (w/v). Demineralization involved treatment with 0.25 M HCl at ambient temperature for 30 min with agitation. The optimal solid‐to‐acid ratio was 1∶30 (w/v) and this led to 86.5±1.2% purification of chitin. With the same conditions, the optimal ratio of mixed acids (0.25 M HCOOH and 0.25 M C₆H₈O₇ at 1∶2 (v/v)) was 1∶28 (w/v) with chitin purification of 88.1±1.8%.

Keywords:

• Chitin
• depolymerization
• demineralization
• extraction
• shrimp waste

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful for support from Guelph Food Research Center, Agriculture, and Agri‐Food Canada. Grateful acknowledgement is provided to Dr. Dominique Bureau, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, for sample analysis.