Evaluation of Gastropods as Biomaterials: Monodonta turbinata (Born, 1780)

Abstract

Monodonta turbinata is a densely populated species along the coasts of İskenderun Bay, Mediterranean Sea. The shells of M. turbinata contain a high amount of chitin for the chitosan production. The goal of this research is to produce chitin and chitosan from M. turbinata shells and characterize them using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques. In addition, the samples were analyzed for solubility and deacetylation degree. The yields of chitin and chitosan obtained from M. turbinata were calculated as 60.26±0.96% and 80±1.29%, respectively. FTIR spectrum analysis results revealed the existence of functional groups in various bands and confirmed that the samples were chitin and chitosan. As a result of the FTIR, the deacetylation degree (DD) value was established to be 84.83%. The crystalline index (CrI) of chitin obtained from shells was computed as 54.92%. SEM analysis results displayed the morphological differences between chitin and chitosan biopolymers. The results indicate that M. turbinata shells, a waste product from İskenderun Bay, hold promise as a chitin and chitosan source for various applications in Türkiye.