Extraction and Characterization of Chitosan from the Shells of Indian White Prawn, Fenneropenaeus indicus (Edwards, 1837)

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 201 - 207, 31.08.2025

Win Lai Lai Htay Khin Khin Gyi

Abstract

The shell wastes of Indian white prawn, Fenneropenaeus indicus, collected from markets and restaurants, were used as raw material for the extraction of chitin and chitosan. The yields of chitin and chitosan extracted from shrimp were 33.35 ± 2.62% and 29.45 ± 1.77%, respectively. The solubility and water-binding capacity of chitosan were 100% and 830.44 ± 128.36%, respectively. The solubility and water-binding capacity of the extracted chitosan are high enough that it can easily be incorporated into various applications. Moreover, the ash content of chitosan produced was relatively low (0.1 ± 0.03%) from Fenneropenaeus indicus, which is indicative of effective demineralization and low impurities in the extracted chitosan. In addition, the functional groups of the chitosan and its surface morphology were identified by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The featured peaks of the FTIR spectra of the extracted chitosan in this study were comparable to those in other related studies. Furthermore, the SEM micrographs of the surface morphology of chitosan revealed rough and fibrous structures with regular or irregular pores.

Keywords

Acid-base treatment , characterization , chitin , chitosan , FTIR , SEM , shrimp shell

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