Chitin-based pulps: Structure-property relationships and environmental sustainability

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Sustainable Chemistry
• Materials Engineering

Background:

• Chitin valorization from crustacean biomass offers sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based materials.
• Current methods for isolating chitin nanocrystals and nanofibrils involve extensive processing, impacting environmental and cost sustainability.
• Developing milder, scalable chitin processing routes is crucial for sustainable bioproduct development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a mild fibrillation route for generating "chitin pulp" from crustacean biomass.
• To demonstrate the ability to tailor material properties by controlling chitin pulp composition.
• To assess the environmental sustainability of the developed chitin pulp compared to existing chitin nanomaterials.

Main Methods:

• A novel, mild fibrillation process was employed to produce chitin pulp.
• Chitin pulp composition (macro- and micro-fibrillated chitin, proteins, minerals) was controlled.
• Films were fabricated from protein-rich chitin pulp for property characterization.
• Life cycle assessment was conducted to evaluate the global warming potential.

Main Results:

• Films produced from protein-rich chitin pulp exhibited an ultimate strength of up to 93 ± 7 MPa.
• Surface energy and wetting behavior were tunable, ranging from hydrophilic to nearly hydrophobic, based on pulp composition.
• Life cycle assessment revealed a 2- to 3-fold reduction in global warming potential for chitin pulp compared to chitin nanocrystals.

Conclusions:

• A new, potentially scalable route for generating chitin-based materials via chitin pulp has been established.
• This method offers a reduced environmental footprint compared to nanochitins and chitosan.
• The findings open avenues for developing environmentally and economically sustainable chitin valorization beyond nanochitin applications.