Surface defects due to bacterial residue on shrimp shell.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology

Background:

• Chitin, a biopolymer from crustacean shells, has diverse applications.
• Microbial interactions can alter chitin's native properties.
• Understanding these alterations is crucial for chitin-based material development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of microorganisms on shrimp shell chitin's surface chemistry and morphology.
• To compare chitin treated with and without microorganisms (ChTfree vs. ChTmo).
• To assess the effect on the degree of deacetylation and potential beneficial components.

Main Methods:

• Quantification of microbial load (TMAB, Pseudomonas spp., Enterococcus spp.) in shrimp shell chitin.
• Surface chemistry analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy.
• Morphological structure evaluation via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersed X-ray (EDX) analysis.
• Determination of the degree of deacetylation using FTIR and EDX data.
• Molecular docking for theoretical validation.

Main Results:

• Chitin without microorganisms (ChTfree) exhibited distinct FTIR peaks and a homogeneous, microporous SEM structure.
• Chitin with microorganisms (ChTmo) showed altered FTIR spectra with diminished chitin-specific peaks and a heterogeneous, fibrous, pore-less SEM morphology.
• The degree of deacetylation was significantly lower in ChTmo compared to ChTfree.
• Microbial presence negatively affected the production of beneficial chitin components.

Conclusions:

• Microbial contamination significantly alters the surface chemistry and morphology of shrimp shell chitin.
• The degree of deacetylation decreases in the presence of microorganisms, impacting chitin's functional properties.
• Findings suggest microbial control is essential for optimizing chitin's beneficial component production for biotechnological applications.