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Chitin from Agaricus bisporus: Extraction and characterization
Abdelghani Hassainia1, Hamid Satha1, Sami Boufi2
1Laboratory of Silicates, Polymers and Nanocomposites, University of 8 Mai 1945, BP 401, 24000 Guelma, Algeria.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|December 4, 2017
Summary
This study details chitin extraction from Agaricus bisporus mushrooms, finding the highest yield from stipes. The extracted chitin is primarily alpha-chitin, suitable for various applications.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
- Mycology
Background:
- Chitin, a biopolymer, is abundant in fungal cell walls.
- Mushrooms like Agaricus bisporus are potential sources of chitin.
- Understanding chitin extraction from different mushroom parts is crucial for optimizing yield and properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize chitin from distinct parts of Agaricus bisporus.
- To determine the optimal extraction conditions for maximizing chitin yield.
- To evaluate the structural and chemical properties of the extracted chitin.
Main Methods:
- Alkaline treatment (1 M NaOH at 80°C for 2h) of mushroom fruit bodies (pileus, stipes, gills).
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for structural analysis.
- Thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and solid-state 13C NMR for characterization.
Main Results:
- Highest chitin extraction yield (7.4% dry weight) was from stipes, followed by pileus (6.4%) and gills (5.9%).
- Extracted chitin was identified as alpha-chitin with a 63% crystalline index (CrI) and 70% degree of N-acetylation (DA).
- SEM revealed a porous structure favorable for polysaccharide extraction; no proteins or glucans were detected.
Conclusions:
- Stipes of Agaricus bisporus are the richest source of chitin among the studied parts.
- The mild alkaline extraction method effectively yields alpha-chitin with favorable characteristics.
- The characterized chitin is a promising biomaterial for various applications.
