Using acid hydrolysis to convert waste shrimp shells to glucosamine

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to character1ze the discarded shells of shrimp caught In the Gulf of Venezuela, establish optimum pre-treatment condit1ons and use acid hydrolysis of chitin to obtain g1ucosamine. The composit1on of the sheils Indicated 39.6% protein, 22.6% chitin and 28.1% ash. Optimum protein-extraction conditions were: 2-hours a1cal1ne digestion at pH12, sttrring. at 30°C. with a 1/20 p/v soHd/liquid ratio. Acid hydrolysis of chitin with concentrated HCI yielded 79.9% glucosamine.

Keywords

• shrimp shell waste
• acid hydrolysis
• glucosamine