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Cold plasma-assisted processing: A sustainable route to high-quality chitosan from crab shells
Zhicheng Cai1, Jianfeng Lu1, Qiang Li1
1Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, MOE, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory for Agriculture Products Modern Processing, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China.
Atmospheric-pressure plasma pretreatment offers a sustainable alternative for chitosan production from crab shells. This eco-friendly method enhances deacetylation efficiency, improves structural quality, and boosts antibacterial properties.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biochemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Traditional chitosan production uses harsh alkali processing, posing safety and sustainability challenges.
- Chitin extraction and deacetylation are key steps with environmental concerns.
- Developing greener methods for chitosan production is crucial for sustainable material development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate atmospheric-pressure plasma pretreatment for enhancing alkaline deacetylation of chitin.
- To improve the efficiency and structural quality of chitosan derived from crab shells.
- To evaluate the impact of plasma pretreatment on chitosan's thermal stability and antibacterial activity.
Main Methods:
- Chitin was extracted from crab shells and pretreated using atmospheric-pressure plasma.
- Alkaline deacetylation was performed on both plasma-treated and untreated chitin.
- Comprehensive characterization included spectroscopy (FTIR, NMR, XPS), diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (DSC, TGA), microscopy (SEM, AFM), and molecular weight analysis.
- Antibacterial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Main Results:
- Plasma pretreatment selectively etched amorphous domains and weakened glycosidic linkages, improving mass transfer during deacetylation.
- Plasma-treated samples showed significantly higher deacetylation degrees (65-74%) compared to the conventional method (58-67%).
- Enhanced crystallinity (up to 31.18%), improved thermal stability, and increased antibacterial efficacy were observed in plasma-treated chitosan.
Conclusions:
- Atmospheric-pressure plasma pretreatment is an effective and environmentally benign strategy for producing high-performance chitosan.
- This method offers structural benefits, improved efficiency, and enhanced functionality compared to traditional chemical processing.
- Plasma pretreatment represents a sustainable advancement in chitosan production from crustacean shell waste.
