Isolation and physicochemical properties of chitin polymer from insect farm side stream as a new source of renewable biopolymer

This study aims to valorize chitin polymer from the side stream of an insect farm and to determine the chitin content, and its physicochemical properties obtained from different processing steps in the insect farm (Adult Black Soldier Fly insect, Puparia, and Flake). We used an acid-base method (using 1 M HCl and 1 M NaOH) as a conventional technique and the acid detergent fiber (ADF) with acid detergent lignin (ADL) methods. The chitin samples are then characterized for thermal stability (TGA-DTA), crystallinity (XRD), chemical compounds (FTIR), and C/N content, and the results were compared to the commercial shrimp chitin. The Puparia had the highest chitin content of 21-33%, followed by the Flake 20-28% and the Adult insect with 7-13% chitin, depending on the extraction method. The chitin yield from ADF-ADL method was on par with the conventional method, while the ADF results were approximately 3-10% higher than the ADF-ADL results. The insect farm side stream is an abundant rich source of high-quality chitin with physiochemical properties comparable with the commercially available shrimp derived chitin. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.