ABSTRACT
Shrimp waste is the most important chitin source for commercial use. In this study chitin and chitosan were extracted from Penaeus semisulcatus waste collected from a shrimp processing landing center situated at Persian Gulf in south of Iran by chemical and microbial methods. Chitin and chitosan were extracted by alkali-acid treatment and the yields were 510 and 410mg/g, respectively. Demineralization is an important step in the chitin purification process from shrimp waste. Chemical extraction method included the use of NaOH solution and acetic acid. In microbial extraction, organic acids [lactic acid] produced by probiotic bacteria was used to demineralize microbial deproteinized shrimp shells. The study showed that the effectiveness of using lactic acid bacteria especially added Fe [NO[3][3] as extra nitrogen source for demineralization of shrimp shells than chemical method [1750 against 810mg/g]. Chitin and chitosan extracted from shrimp waste by chemical and microbial methods was crystalline powder, non-harmful and odorless, white and off-white, respectively. The moisture content was calculated as 63.8%. The amount of Ca, Fe, Cu and Mn present in the shells was 168, 35.58, 38.28 and 6.72mg/L, obtained by atomic absorption spectroscopy, respectively. The amount of calcium in the shells was 25 times higher than manganese. The results suggested Lactobacillus plantarum [PTTC 1058] is an attractive source of recovery for chitin and chitosan