EVALUACIÓN DE PROCESOS COMBINADOS: PURIFICACIÓN DE QUITINA A PARTIR DE EXOESQUELETOS DE CAMARÓN (Penaeus sp) Y CHAPULÍN (Sphenarium purpurascens)

Abstract

<p><strong>Background</strong>. Chitin is found in high concentration in insects, this being a new source of exploitation, due to the similarity in the content of chitin in exoskeletons of crustaceans compared to insects, especially those considered pests. <strong>Objective</strong>. Evaluate and compare the biological process of solid medium fermentation (SMF) combined with three treatments: ultrasonication, chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis in the purification of chitin from shrimp (<em>Penaeus sp</em>) and grasshopper (<em>Sphenarium purpurascens</em>) exoskeletons. <strong>Methodology</strong>. It consisted of the implementation of a pretreatment by fermentation in a solid medium (SMF) with chitinous samples (shrimp and grasshopper) combined with ultrasonication (20 kHz, 750 W, 120 min, 30 °C, 1/20 p/v), hydrolysis chemical (0.4 M NaOH, 0.6 N HCl, 38% NaClO, 1/15 p/v, 25 °C, 4 h) and enzymatic (Alcalase<sup>®</sup> 2.4L, 1:2 E:S, pH 7.5, 70 °C, 150 rpm, 300 min). <strong>Results</strong>. The combined treatments of SMF-ultrasonication, SMF-chemical hydrolysis, and SMF-enzymatic hydrolysis showed a higher percentage of deproteinization (84.82, 94.67, and 80.45%) and demineralization (82.12, 95.58, and 52%) with shrimp exoskeletons compared to shrimp exoskeletons grasshopper percentages (76.38, 92.04 and 78.71%) and (79.39, 95.37 and 51.79%) respectively. <strong>Implications</strong>. The chemical treatment generated greater protein and mineral removal compared to the other treatments, reaching yields of 54.45% in shrimp and 51.88% in grasshoppers. <strong>Conclusion</strong>. Ultrasonic waves extracted chitin in a shorter time (2h) with yields of 74.43% in shrimp and 78.02% in grasshoppers, reducing the amount of water.</p>