Result and discussion
58
Various observations were made throughout the experiment, and their implications on the
quality of chitosan production are summarized as follows:
✓ Acidic and alkaline treatments were identified as crucial factors influencing the quality
of chitosan production. It was found that achieving an efficient conversion of chitin to
chitosan within a relatively short time frame of 0.5-2 hours necessitates a high
percentage of NaOH, typically ranging from 50-60%. This observation aligns with the
findings reported by KUMARI et al. (2017), moreover an extended reaction time
negatively affected the intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight of the resulting
chitosan.
✓ Furthermore, the washing process in chitosan extraction was influenced by the use of
gauze cloth, leading to the loss of chitosan powder, On the other hand, the utilization of
a vacuum pump demonstrated improved results and contributed to the reduction of
chitosan losses.
✓ Additionally, the drying process and duration played a significant role in shaping the
final appearance and physicochemical properties of chitosan. The experiment
demonstrated that shorter drying times in the oven yielded more desirable results. This
finding suggests that minimizing the drying duration is essential for preserving the
desired characteristics of chitosan and preventing potential degradation or alterations in
its properties.
By combining the optimized conditions identified in the study, this hybrid approach described
in the table below is anticipated to provide a superior extraction process for chitosan with
improved yields and enhanced quality.
Table 14: Final hybrid chitin and chitosan extraction
Extraction Procedure
• 3h protein removal (5% NAOH-70°)
• 1h calcium carbonate removal (7% HCL)
• 24h bleaching (pure acetone)
• 1h30 hydrolysis (55% NAOH-120°) (refluxed)
Chitin yield
• 30%
Chitosan yield
• 40%
Color and aspect of
chitosan powder
• White fluffy powder
58
Various observations were made throughout the experiment, and their implications on the
quality of chitosan production are summarized as follows:
✓ Acidic and alkaline treatments were identified as crucial factors influencing the quality
of chitosan production. It was found that achieving an efficient conversion of chitin to
chitosan within a relatively short time frame of 0.5-2 hours necessitates a high
percentage of NaOH, typically ranging from 50-60%. This observation aligns with the
findings reported by KUMARI et al. (2017), moreover an extended reaction time
negatively affected the intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight of the resulting
chitosan.
✓ Furthermore, the washing process in chitosan extraction was influenced by the use of
gauze cloth, leading to the loss of chitosan powder, On the other hand, the utilization of
a vacuum pump demonstrated improved results and contributed to the reduction of
chitosan losses.
✓ Additionally, the drying process and duration played a significant role in shaping the
final appearance and physicochemical properties of chitosan. The experiment
demonstrated that shorter drying times in the oven yielded more desirable results. This
finding suggests that minimizing the drying duration is essential for preserving the
desired characteristics of chitosan and preventing potential degradation or alterations in
its properties.
By combining the optimized conditions identified in the study, this hybrid approach described
in the table below is anticipated to provide a superior extraction process for chitosan with
improved yields and enhanced quality.
Table 14: Final hybrid chitin and chitosan extraction
Extraction Procedure
• 3h protein removal (5% NAOH-70°)
• 1h calcium carbonate removal (7% HCL)
• 24h bleaching (pure acetone)
• 1h30 hydrolysis (55% NAOH-120°) (refluxed)
Chitin yield
• 30%
Chitosan yield
• 40%
Color and aspect of
chitosan powder
• White fluffy powder