Biorecovery of chitin from shrimp shell waste (Litopenaeus vanamme) using fermentation and co-fermentation of L.plantarum and B.thuringiensis

Abstract

Litopenaeus vanamme shrimp shell waste, which is abundantly available in Indonesia, could be optimally utilized through chitin extraction. The high-temperature chemical process is a fast and simple conventional method for extracting chitin. However, for economical and environmentally friendly process, it need a green extraction method through bacterial fermentation. Therefore in this research, biological process was carried out through Litopenaeus vanamme shrimp shell fermentation using various bacteria, such as Lactobacillus plantarum (A), Bacillus thuringiensis (B), and the combination of both bacteria (C) compared to chemical method (D). The yield of method A, B, C and D were: 80.67±0.43%; 71.25±0.45%; 63.91±1.20%; and 31.46±0.06% respectively. Co-fermentation method (method C) resulting in brighter color, higher deproteination and demineralization degree than single-fermentation methods (method A and B). The deproteination and demineralization degree of method A; B; C; D were: 28.51±0.69%, 17.41±0.89%; 47.71±1.01%, 15.08±0.36%; 50.29±1.14%, 34.33±1.04%; and 85.17±0.10%, 50.13 ± 0.72% respectively. Chitin produced from biological and chemical method had total nitrogen less than 7%. Based on the calculations through FTIR data, chitin from biological method resulted in higher degree of acetylation than chemical method. The higher the degree of acetylation obtained, the less the polymer is degraded which can preserve chitin structure.