Biological chitosan production from shrimp waste and evaluation of anti-microbial activity of produced chitosan

Purpose: Chitosan, a biological polymer, is an important polysaccharide that can be used in many fields such as medical and industrial applications. Current production methods in the industry are chemical intensive, environmentally damaging and costly. This situation emphasizes the importance of developing sustainable production techniques. Chitosan is obtained from the deacetylation of chitin. Marine bacteria live in chitin-rich environments. Therefore, they are valuable enzymatic producers for sustainable chitosan production due to their natural affinity for chitin and high enzyme activity. Method: In this study, chitosan was synthesized from chitin-rich waste shrimp shells by enzymatic method. Seven candidates showing the highest production efficiency were selected from 10 bacteria isolated from the Marmara Sea. Chitosan validation was obtained by P-nitroacetanilide, iodide inducers and FT-IR analysis.Findings: The research successfully demonstrates that Marmara Sea marine bacteria produce chitosan at higher levels than chemical synthesis, offering a sustainable and cost-effective industrial solution. Conclusion: The superior antimicrobial properties of biologically produced chitosan underline its significant potential for biomedical and environmental applications.