Validating shrimp
P.G.H. Uiterweerd (Hanzehogeschool), A.R. Kerkhove (Hanzehogeschool), A. Heeres (Syncom BV), M. van der Sluis (Matripure BV)
Introduction
Recently, mechanical peeling of North Sea shrimp has been developed. This creates a new biomass waste stream in the north of the Netherlands, i.e. shrimp shells.
Aim
Shrimp shells contain chitin, a versatile polysaccharide. The polysaccharide. The aim is to isolate chitin from shrimp
shells and validate the product for medical and industrial purposes.
CHITIN
Validations include:
• Ultrapure chitine for medical purposes • Synthesis of valuable chitin derivatives
• Application of chitin and chitosan in coatings and glue • Application of chitosan in water purification
Future plans
• Devise a green method of chitin isolation
• Removal of any residual neurotoxins from chitin • Scale up of the isolation procedure in ZAP
• Deacetylation of chitin to chitosan
Isolation
Shrimp shells consist of chitin, proteins and calcium
carbonate. By subsequent treatment with HCl and NaOH, CaCO3 and the proteins are removed, respectively. This
afforded 98% of the chitin that is theoretically present in the shells.
The procedure will be scaled up in our Zernike Advanced Processing facility.
Oxidation and deacetylation
Chitin was oxidized to 6-carboxychitin by treatment of the former with NaOCl, NaBr and TEMPO.1 This afforded the
product in 93% yield.
6-CARBOXYCHITIN
Deacetylation to chitosan with 0000 is under investigation.2
Literature
1. 0000 Patent oxidatie
2. 0000 Deacetylering artikel
Acknowledgements
Telson BV, Dynaplak BV, BIONND, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. O * O O H NH O OH O O O H NH O OH * n O * O O H NH O OH O O O H NH O OH * n O O
