Production of chitosan from horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda)

Abstract

Throughout the years of chitosan production, numerous sources have been tested to produce desired quality of chitosan for commercia1 use. However, never been reported any study on the potentiaJ of chitinous shelled horseshoe crab. lb.is research aims to produce chitosan from two species of horseshoe crab, Tachyp/eus gigas and C.rotundicauda. Chitosan from horseshoe crabs, Tachyp/eus gigas and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda has been produced and physico-chemically characterized. The chitosan is made by a common chemical process involving three steps, deproteini:z.ation, deminerali:z.ation, and deacytelation. The result shows the percentage yield of chitosan production for T. gigas and C. rotundicauda were 19 .18% and 19. 70% respectively. The degree of deacytelation were determined by potentiometric method and the va1ue for T. gigas is 72.02% while C. rotundicauda with value of 60.53%. The physico-chemical properties of chitosan from T. gigas are 6.78% of moisture content, 75.9% solubility in 1 % acetic acid, 0.1 % of ash content, 224% of fat binding capacity with soy bean oil and 332% for sunflower oil. Meanwhile the moisture content of C. rotundicauda is 1.67%, 78.96% .of solubility, ash content of 0.17%, fat bound with soybean oil of 261 % and 323.% for sunflower oil. This study demonstrate that chitosan could be obtained from the two species of horseshoe crabs commonly found in Malaysia with higher percentage yield and within commercial standard for solubility, ash content and moisture content