Extraction of chitin from six different insect species as alternative source for biological applications

Abstract

Chitosan, the most dominant and abundant polymer in scientific researches with its wide range biopharmaceutical and biomedical applications is now extracted from different interesting resources in large and valuable quantities. Six different groups of insects were used in this study. These were Ground dark beetle, Solitary (Carpenter) bee, Damsel fly, Earwig, Black bug and Egyptian grasshopper. These insect species showed easy capturing and preparation through deproteinization, demineralization and dehydration. By using Infrared spectrophotometry technology and calculating the degree of deacetylation, the potential effect of these insects can be insured as alternative source for chitin extraction and chitosan industrial applications.