Extraction and Characterization of Chitosan by Simple Technique from Mud Crabs

Abstract

Chitosan is a naturally available biopolymer. It occurs as a component of crustacean shells, insect exoskeletons, fungal cell walls and plankton. In this work, chitin was extracted from mud crab shells waste. Chitosan, a useful biopolymer, was obtained from pulverized shells of crabs via demineralization, deproteination and de-acetylation. These steps were crucial for the elimination of calcium carbonate and other minerals as well as protein which are present in the shells. In this study, the chemical compositions of crab shells waste were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). From the 200 g exoskeleton of mud crab, 52.46 g (26.23%) chitin was extracted. Out of the 52.46 g chitin, 38.68 g (73.73%) chitosan was obtained.