RECOVERY OF CHITIN AND CHITOSAN FROM SHRIMP WASTE BY CHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL METHODS

Shrimp waste is the most important chitin source for commercial use. in this study chitin and chitosanwere extracted from penaeus semisulcatus waste collected from a shrimp processing landing centersituated at persian gulf in south of iran by chemical and microbial methods. chitin and chitosan wereextracted by alkali-acid treatment and the yields were 510 and 410mg/g, respectively. demineralizationis an important step in the chitin purification process from shrimp waste. chemical extraction methodincluded the use of naoh solution and acetic acid. in microbial extraction, organic acids (lactic acid)produced by probiotic bacteria was used to demineralize microbial deproteinized shrimp shells. the studyshowed that the effectiveness of using lactic acid bacteria especially added fe (no3)3 as extra nitrogensource for demineralization of shrimp shells than chemical method (1750 against 810mg/g). chitin andchitosan extracted from shrimp waste by chemical and microbial methods was crystalline powder, nonharmfuland odorless, white and off-white, respectively. the moisture content was calculated as 63.8%.the amount of ca, fe, cu and mn present in the shells was 168, 35.58, 38.28 and 6.72mg/l, obtained byatomic absorption spectroscopy, respectively. the amount of calcium in the shells was 25 times higherthan manganese. the results suggested lactobacillus plantarum (pttc 1058) is an attractive source ofrecovery for chitin and chitosan.