Chitin-based pulps: Structure-property relationships and environmental sustainability

Chitosan–Chitin Nanocrystal Films from Lobster and Spider Crab: Properties and Environmental Sustainability

“…To identify environmental hotspots during CS/ChNC film production we applied a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment using 1 kg of material (dry basis) as the functional unit. ,, Note that although the experiments were conducted from 100 g of dry shells, the functional unit of 1 kg enables comparison with benchmark materials, for which impacts are typically provided in reference to a kilo, regardless of the reaction scale. To facilitate cross-comparison with literature data on chitinuous film production, the global warming potential (GWP, measured as CO 2 equivalent emissions) impact indicator is first reported in Figure a.…”

“…Economically feasible methods for obtaining chitinous biomass typically involve controlled deconstruction of discarded crustacean shells. Crab endocuticles, and shrimp shells, , have been the primary feedstock utilized for chitin valorization. However, there are still several chitinous sources that remain open to exploration for chitosan and chitin nanocrystal isolation.…”

Competitive and Environmentally Sustainable Bioproducts: Mild Top-Down Processing of Biomass to Renewable Carbon

“…This can be achieved through ball-milling and demineralization of shrimp shells with a 39% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the pure chitin counterpart, which, indeed, is substantially weaker (∼25 MPa). 19 Alternatively, fungal chitin-glucan nanopapers (80 g•m −2 ) achieved by simple mechanical blending and mild alkali treatment possess tensile strength values of ∼205 MPa, exceeding the ∼70 MPa reported for crustacean-sourced nanochitin materials (which involves harsh chemical reactions with large energy consumption). 20 Here, it is important to underline that such net performance improvements are attributed to the enhanced binding interaction between the natural components in the composites, that could only be realized under mild top-down processing.…”

“…For instance, chitin-based pulps with retained proteins possess ultimate tensile strength values of ∼93 MPa. This can be achieved through ball-milling and demineralization of shrimp shells with a 39% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the pure chitin counterpart, which, indeed, is substantially weaker (∼25 MPa) . Alternatively, fungal chitin-glucan nanopapers (80 g·m –2 ) achieved by simple mechanical blending and mild alkali treatment possess tensile strength values of ∼205 MPa, exceeding the ∼70 MPa reported for crustacean-sourced nanochitin materials (which involves harsh chemical reactions with large energy consumption) .…”