Isolation of Chitin Nano-whiskers Directly from Crustacean Biomass Waste in a Single Step with Acidic Ionic Liquids

Abstract

We report on a first method for in situ formation of individual chitin nanowhiskers (ChNWs) straight from crustacean biomass. The method that utilizes the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ionic liquid ([C 4 mim][HSO 4 ]) allows liberating ChNWs with simultaneous removal of the protein−mineral matrix, without the need of prior isolation and purification of chitin polymer. The process reduces the amount of required chemicals and decreases the volume of process waste while avoiding the necessity of handling boiling acidic solution used in the traditional preparation of ChNWs. The resulting chitin nanowhiskers from biomass exhibit a high aspect ratio of 75 and a crystallinity index of 92%, are fully acetylated, and of high thermal stability with a decomposition temperature of 347.9 °C.

Environmental Impact Assessment of Chitin Nanofibril and Nanocrystal Isolation from Fungi, Shrimp Shells, and Crab Shells

“…Overall, these processes circumvent the need of NaOH or HCl, lowering waste volumes and associated environmental impacts. Remarkably, Shamshina and Abidi extracted individualized chitin nanowhiskers from shrimp shells with no need to prior chitin isolation/purification steps using ionic liquids, opening the path to greener chitin isolation approaches …”

“…Remarkably, Shamshina and Abidi extracted individualized chitin nanowhiskers from shrimp shells with no need to prior chitin isolation/purification steps using ionic liquids, opening the path to greener chitin isolation approaches. 61 Weak organic acids such as oxalic, lactic, or citric acid can replace inorganic acids such as HCl or H 2 SO 4 during biobased colloid isolation, so their use can be a priori considered to lower the total environmental impacts of chitin nanoparticle isolation. Accordingly, recent investigations have tapped onto the replacement of HCl or H 2 SO 4 by weak organic acids such as citric acid, 62 malic acid, or ascorbic acid, 59 or novel extraction approaches involving biobased natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) composed of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors that adhere to the Green Chemistry principles.…”

Shell waste valorization to chemicals: methods and progress

“…This innovative approach offers a more streamlined and efficient method for chitin extraction. 87 Acidic and natural DES systems have been found to be effective in the dissolution and extraction of superior quality chitin from raw shell waste effectively. 88,89 Extraction methods based on mechanochemistry where the solid-state milling of shell waste with solid acids is followed by aging are emerging as novel and sustainable methods nowadays.…”

Closing the Nutrient Loop—The New Approaches to Recovering Biomass Minerals during the Biorefinery Processes

“…Zhang et al removed minerals from switchgrass and a corn stover by treatment with 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C4mim] [Oac]), thus increasing the thermal stability of the biomass, but no further utilization for the recovered minerals was proposed. Recently, Shamshina et al obtained chitin nano-whiskers with the simultaneous removal of mineral-protein matrix from crustacean biomass, using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate [C4mim] [HSO4], again without any approach on the utilization of mineral fraction [165]. Considering that minerals seem to boost the degradation of ILs and be detrimental in the long run, as shown by Sarvaramini et al [164], which would affect the ILs recycling, but which could also generate toxic and corrosive residues and complexes, it is not clear if and how the minerals extracted in ILs could, in fact, be valorized.…”