Premium
Optimum parameters for production of chitin and chitosan from squilla ( S. empusa )
Author(s) -
Shrinivas Rao Mukku,
Aye Nyein Kyaw,
Si Trung Trang,
Stevens Willem F.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.24840
Subject(s) - chitin , chitosan , sodium hydroxide , demineralization , hydrochloric acid , solubility , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , hydrolysis , materials science , organic chemistry , enamel paint , composite material
Chitin and chitosan of high quality were produced from squilla, a by‐catch of Indian Ocean fisheries, by demineralization, deproteination, and deacetylation. Optimum conditions for the production of chitin and chitosan were determined. The quality of chitin was assessed from its ash and protein content. Ash content was below 1% after treatment with 4% HCl for 12 h at 50°C. A protein content of less than 1% could be achieved by treatment with 4% NaOH in 12 h but only at a temperature of 70°C or higher. Production of chitin was also tested by a three‐stage treatment with altering sequence of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid (HCl–NaOH–HCl or NaOH–HCl–NaOH). This three‐step treatment appeared to be successful to achieve a mineral content and protein content below 1% within 30 h and at a temperature not exceeding 50°C. The chitin obtained under optimum conditions was tested for deacetylation using NaOH concentrations of 40 and 50% for 12–44 h at 30, 50 and 70°C. The chitosan obtained had a degree of deacetylation of 77–86%, a viscosity of 8.2–16.2 × 10 2 cps, solubility of 98%, and molecular weight of ˜ 1 × 10 6 dalton. The data show that processing of squilla waste can lead to a high quality chitosan, useful for a broad range of applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 103: 3694–3700, 2007