Biological and chemical synergy in chitin and chitosan production: The role of process sequencing in shrimp shell waste treatment.

A combined biological and chemical methodology was applied to valorize shrimp shell waste into chitin and chitosan. This strategy aims to enhance process efficiency and sustainability. Various sequences of deproteinization (DP) and demineralization (DM) were evaluated, using Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus delbrueckii as biocatalysts, respectively.

Chitin/chitosan extraction from shrimp shell waste by a completely biotechnological process.

Two lactic bacteria were used in sequential co-cultures to demineralize (DM) and deproteinize (DP) shrimp shells (SS) to obtain chitin. During the first 24 h, Lactobacillus delbrueckii performed the DM in a minimal medium containing 100 g/L SS and 50 g/L glucose. Then, three different conditions were assayed to complete DM and perform the DP stage: 1) Bifidobacterium lactis was added with 35 g/L of glucose (Ld-G → Bl-G); 2) only B.