Abstract:
A new method for the production of chitosan from shrimp waste using dried
papaya milk (OPM) has been developed. It involves the treatment of
demineralized (with 4% HCI) shrimp waste with OPM followed by
deproteinization with 3% NaOH and deacetylation with 50% NaOH. The use
ofOPM brings about considerable reductions in the amount ofHCI (20%) and
NaOH (40%), which are known to cause env.ironmental pollution problems.
Typically, the degree of deacetylation (~O) of resulting chitosan was (67%)
comparable to DO of conventional methods. Moisture content (9.12%) and
ash content (0.09%) of resulting chitosan were significantly low compared to
chitosan obtained by 100% chemical methods.
