62
3 Chitin
company who produce chitin from shrimp and crab shells, respectively. Another
company based in Belgium called KitoZyme S. A produces chitosan from fungi
for food and pharmaceutical applications. Another company Primex produces chitosan from arctic shrimp for applications in food. Other companies involved in the
production of chitin and/or its derivatives include Asiamerica Group, Inc., Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing Corp, Orison Chemicals Ltd., Parachem, Shandong
Laizhou Highly Bio-Products Co. Ltd., Pure Earth Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Qingdao BZ Oligo Biotech Co., Ltd. and Yaizu Suisankagaku Industry Co., Ltd. (Future
Market Insights 2019).
Shell-Ex, a biorefinery company located in Canada, is dedicated to converting
shrimp waste into products such as liquid fish to serve as soil NPK nutrient and
shrimp and crab shell which is mainly targeted at chitosan production company. The
specific type of shrimp shell it supplies (Pandalus borealis) is regarded as highquality shell preferred in chitosan production, particularly sourced from the Atlantic
Ocean for optimal purity away from industrially polluted water.
Heppe Medical Chitosan GmBH located in Germany develops, produces and sells
chitosan alongside other biopolymers targeted at supplying the research and medical
sector. For such purpose where high-quality chitosan is required, production occurs
in smaller batches. CHitOcean is another company in North America involved in the
chitosan manufacturing.
Great opportunities exist in the present and future market for manufacturers of
chitin and its derivatives. Opportunities also exist for the raw material collectors and
agents as well as the end use industries. As chitin industry expands, this will trigger
new product development in all the various areas of applications implementing the
diverse chemistry of chitosan into numerous products. Generally, fish consumption
in any country is higher in the coastal regions than inland areas. This is an important
fact to consider in location of chitin plants near to the raw materials.
3.9 Conclusion
Chitin is almost exclusively sourced from the aquatic environment with the exception
of insects, mushrooms and land crabs which are not fully aquatic. It is a versatile
biopolymer of much industrial significance. In nature, it plays a significant role in
structure within the organisms such as shrimp shells and mushroom. It also plays a
role in metal chelation and formation of coral reefs. The amount of chitin being used
and made commercially available is much less than what is being generated as waste
and how much exists in the aquatic world. Therefore, there is much room for growth
in the chitin industry with regard to available raw material. Presently, crustacean
shells are the most widely utilized sources used for commercial chitin production
although researchers have extracted from various sources such as mushrooms, insects
and fish scales. The chemical production method is the method being mainly used in
industry for chitin extraction although chitin can also be extracted using microbial
fermentation and enzyme extraction. Molecular weight, degree of deacetylation and
3 Chitin
company who produce chitin from shrimp and crab shells, respectively. Another
company based in Belgium called KitoZyme S. A produces chitosan from fungi
for food and pharmaceutical applications. Another company Primex produces chitosan from arctic shrimp for applications in food. Other companies involved in the
production of chitin and/or its derivatives include Asiamerica Group, Inc., Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing Corp, Orison Chemicals Ltd., Parachem, Shandong
Laizhou Highly Bio-Products Co. Ltd., Pure Earth Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Qingdao BZ Oligo Biotech Co., Ltd. and Yaizu Suisankagaku Industry Co., Ltd. (Future
Market Insights 2019).
Shell-Ex, a biorefinery company located in Canada, is dedicated to converting
shrimp waste into products such as liquid fish to serve as soil NPK nutrient and
shrimp and crab shell which is mainly targeted at chitosan production company. The
specific type of shrimp shell it supplies (Pandalus borealis) is regarded as highquality shell preferred in chitosan production, particularly sourced from the Atlantic
Ocean for optimal purity away from industrially polluted water.
Heppe Medical Chitosan GmBH located in Germany develops, produces and sells
chitosan alongside other biopolymers targeted at supplying the research and medical
sector. For such purpose where high-quality chitosan is required, production occurs
in smaller batches. CHitOcean is another company in North America involved in the
chitosan manufacturing.
Great opportunities exist in the present and future market for manufacturers of
chitin and its derivatives. Opportunities also exist for the raw material collectors and
agents as well as the end use industries. As chitin industry expands, this will trigger
new product development in all the various areas of applications implementing the
diverse chemistry of chitosan into numerous products. Generally, fish consumption
in any country is higher in the coastal regions than inland areas. This is an important
fact to consider in location of chitin plants near to the raw materials.
3.9 Conclusion
Chitin is almost exclusively sourced from the aquatic environment with the exception
of insects, mushrooms and land crabs which are not fully aquatic. It is a versatile
biopolymer of much industrial significance. In nature, it plays a significant role in
structure within the organisms such as shrimp shells and mushroom. It also plays a
role in metal chelation and formation of coral reefs. The amount of chitin being used
and made commercially available is much less than what is being generated as waste
and how much exists in the aquatic world. Therefore, there is much room for growth
in the chitin industry with regard to available raw material. Presently, crustacean
shells are the most widely utilized sources used for commercial chitin production
although researchers have extracted from various sources such as mushrooms, insects
and fish scales. The chemical production method is the method being mainly used in
industry for chitin extraction although chitin can also be extracted using microbial
fermentation and enzyme extraction. Molecular weight, degree of deacetylation and