Biotechnological production of chitosan: extraction and characterization from Trichoderma sp.

Aim.The study aimed at extraction and physicochemical characterization of fungal chitosan from Trichoderma reesei (MTCC 4876).Methods.Fungal chitosan was isolated using submerged fermentation over 4 days in three different growth media: Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB), Yeast Potato Dextrose Broth (YPDB), and Czapek Dox Broth (CDB).Growth kinetic parameters, including specific growth rate (µ) and doubling time (td), were determined for each medium.Chitosan extraction from the harvested biomass was performed using an alkaline treatment method.Physicochemical characterization of extracted chitosan using FTIR & DSC, UV-Vis spectroscopy for optical absorption properties and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy to assess fluorescence behavior.Results.Among the tested media, PDB demonstrated the highest biomass yield of 116 mg/g.FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups analogous to commercial chitosan, indicating structural similarity.Thermal analysis via DSC validated the thermal stabi lity of fungal chitosan.UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed significant optical absorption, while PL spectra exhibited notable fluorescence behavior, suggesting potential use in advanced material applications.Conclusions.In this study chitosan was successfully isolated from Trichoderma reesei (MTCC 4876), demonstrating distinct physicochemical properties comparable to the commercial chitosan.These findings highlight the potential of fungal chitosan for diverse industrial and commercial applications, particularly where optical and thermal properties are crucial.