Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STUDY OF EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CHITOSAN AND INVESTIGATION OF ITS PROPERTIES

A.B. Janrao, M.B. Shinde and S.B. Dahikar

Abstract

Chitin (-(1–4)-poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) is a large generous highly hydrophobic and water-insoluble biomolecule that is a rich form of carbohydrates and has the potential to inhibit the growth of fungus. Chitin is indistinguishable from protein contains amino sugar and naturally occurs in the exoskeleton of crustaceans, mollusacans, coelenterates fungi. Chitosan , where deacetylated form and copolymer of chitin that is partially soluble in water and chitin has greater importance a biomedical and commercial use that is chitin, is used as supplementary diet and also for the production of medicine. Chitin has a great role in plant disease management with the Anti toxicants properties. For the purpose of the study the Maydelliathelphus alugubris (crab) was collected from the region of Kopargaon from stagnant water. In this study represents the extraction method of chitin and various chemical methods of Demineralization removal of inorganic salt, Deprotienization (removal of protein), Decolorization (to remove the colour) and the chitosan by Deacetylation for the removal of acetyl group. After grounding 88% of the grounded shell stuff was secured. After various chemical processes such as demineralization 83% stuff was secured, deproteinization 72% and after deacetylation 61% chitosan was obtained. Characterization of its nature that means the purity of chitosan is determined after the detection of its fictional group have done by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) Spectroscopy. The result concluded that the commercially valuable chitosan was obtained from the shell of a crab.