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 1M HCl and 1M 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.
There have been many efforts to valorise lignin to produce bio-based chemicals and advanced materials. In this study, alkaline delignification was initially employed to recover lignin from the rind, pulp, and whole bagasse fractions of Moroccan sugarcane. The lignin fractions were subsequently modified via silanization and acetylation reactions. The modified lignin and raw lignin were then characterised to assess changes in their physicochemical properties via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solubility and thermogravimetric assessment, with both salinization and acetylation modification shown to enhance the solubility properties of the raw lignin of both polar and non-polar solvents. Preliminary investigations into the suitability of employing the modified lignin in hydrogel preparation were also undertaken. The preliminary hydrogels were developed using heating and freeze-thawing methods, while polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) were used as the matrix and the crosslinking agents, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), rheological analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis were then used to characterize the different lignin–PVA hydrogels. The study showed that the swelling behaviour of the hydrogels was mainly influenced by the nature of the lignin (i.e., modified or raw), and the morphology of the hydrogel surfaces varied depending on the preparation methods. The study showed that the hydrogel based on silanized lignin and PVA had superior mechanical performance and swelling capacity compared to the acetylated lignin–PVA and raw lignin–PVA hydrogels.
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