Crustacean shell waste derived chitin and chitin nanomaterials for application in agriculture, food, and health – A review

Abstract

Chitin, a widely available natural polymer, is the fundamental structural component of crustacean shells. The crustacean processing industry produces a lot of shell waste each year (in millions), most of which is discarded and poses serious environmental problems. This waste can be effectively utilized to produce chitin and chitin nanomaterials with superior physicochemical and biological properties, making it applicable in various industries. In this context, this review outlined the chitin extraction methods from crustacean shell waste. The recent advancements in chitin nanomaterial isolation in the form of chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) and chitin nanofibers (ChNFs) from purified chitin are discussed. Furthermore, the current practical applications of chitin and chitin nanomaterials in agriculture, biomedicine, and the food industry are reviewed to better understand the polymer's applicability for future research and development.