Production of Chitin and Chitosan from Partially Autolyzed Shrimp Shell Materials

The effect of partial autolysis during storage of shrimp biowaste on the quality of the extracted chitin and chitosan has been investigated. Shrimp waste materials were stored in a 30oC incubator for 1-4 days. The quality of the chitin and chitosan extracted from these materials was assessed by ash and protein analysis and in solution by viscosimetry. Chitosan from fresh biowaste, treated for 1 day at 30oC showed the highest viscosity 3590 cps. Chitosan from frozen material showed the highest viscosity at 3580 cps after 2 days at 30oC. The corresponding values for chitosan without 30oC treatment were 2300 and 2700 cps. Normally, viscosity, solubility and molecular weight of chitosan are closely related. The data of this study show that after partial autolysis the viscosity of the chitosan obtained has increased, but that other characteristics of chitosan such as degree of deacetylation, molecular weight, solubility and turbidity did not change.