Synthesizing and characterization of natural biopolymer chitosan derived from shrimp type, penaeus monodon

Abstract

In this study natural biopolymer "chitosan" was synthesized using locally available shrimp type of Penaeus monodon. Synthesis of chitosan involved four main stages: preconditioning, demineralization, deprotenisalion and deacetylation. The first stage, "preconditioning " process, is a new step introduced in this research. Effect of deacetylation conditions such as alkali concentration, number of limes deacetylation was performed and reaction temperature was investigated. Yields of chitin and chitosan from R monodon were calculated. Chitosan was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Degree of deacetylation of synthesized powder was calculated using FTIR spectra. Both characterization techniques confirm the existence of chitosan.