Physicochemical characterization of chitosan and determination of carotenoid extracted from scylla olivacea (mud crab) and cherax quadricarinatus (red claw)

Abstract

In this study, chitosan and carotenoids were extracted from Scylla olivicea and Cherax quadricarinatus respectively. Carotenoid content in each species was determined by calculation in terms of astaxanthin which extracted from oil base method. The physicochemical property of chitosan determined includes moisture, ash, degree of deacetylation, colour, water and fat binding capacities. All the characteristics determined were compared with commercial chitosan. The degree of deacetylation and also water and fat binding capacities were determined by using direct titration and centrifuge respectively. The yield of carotenoid obtained from Cherax quadricarinatus and Scylla olivicea were 34.58µg/g and 30.88µg/g respectively. Meanwhile, the yield of chitosan obtained from Scylla olivicea was 44.57 % and 26.33% from Cherax quadricarinatus. The moisture and ash content of chitosan for Cherax quadricarinatus and Scylla olivicea were 7.20% and 56.46%; 3.53% and 47.95% respectively compared to commercial which was 2.25% moisture and 62.25% ash. Degree of deacetylation for Scylla olivicea and Cherax quadricarinatus was 53.42% and 53.45% respectively compared to the commercial which was 58.42%.