Chitosan from Marine Crustaceans: Production, Characterization and Applications.

DIMA JIMENA; ZARITZKY NOEMÍ; SEQUEIROS CYNTHIA

Biological Activities and Application of Marine Polysaccharides

INTECH

Año: 2017; p. 40 - 56

Chitosan is a very useful marinepolysaccharide that forms structural components in the exoskeleton ofcrustaceans. In this chapter, the production of chitosan (CH) and chitosan reticulated micro/nanoparticles (CHM) is described. Three case studies correspondingto different effective applications of chitosan are discussed: (i) the performanceof CH to destabilize oil/water emulsion waste for water clarification. It was observed that as long as colloidal charge was maintained around zero, turbidity also showedlow values and water clarification was achieved. However, when the applied doseswere higher than the optimum, colloidal charge and turbidity both increased, showingemulsion restabilization. Emulsions treated with the optimum chitosan doses were clarified in very short periods; (ii) CH and CHM were used as effectiveantibacterial agents against three different pathogenic microorganisms that are problematic for aquaculture: Vibrio alginolyticus and parahaemolyticus, and Lactococcus garvieae, and the minimum bactericidal concentrations were determined; and (iii) the removal of hexavalent chromium and thecomparative performance of CH versus CHM. Results showed that at pH < 2, theadsorption capacity of CHM was higher because CH is unstable. Additionally, Cr(VI)was adsorbed on CH without further reduction; in contrast, Cr(VI) adsorbed onCHM was reduced to nontoxic Cr(III).