Shrimp Waste-to-Chitosan Conversion Technology

Background

Shrimp exports were 125,596 tons in 2007, accounting for 34% of the fisheries sector’s foreign exchange production. This volume of shrimp production will generate a lot of waste, as by-products such as heads, skin, tails, and legs account for 35%-50% of the initial weight. The waste generated by the freezing, canning, and processing of shrimp crackers ranges from 30% to 75% of the weight of the shrimp.

The growing volume of shrimp trash is still a concern that must be addressed. This not only adds value to the shrimp processing industry, but it may also help to solve environmental pollution issues, particularly the problem of smells released and bad environmental aesthetics. The majority of shrimp waste generated by the shrimp processing industry originates from the head, shell, and tail.

Challenge

Shrimp shell waste decomposes easily and is difficult to degrade, so it can cause environmental pollution. Shrimp shells contain protein (25%-40%), chitin (15%-20%) and calcium carbonate (45%-50%) (Marganof, 2003). The chitin content of shrimp shells is less than that of crab shells or shells. In Indonesia, this by-product is not widely used so it only becomes waste that disturbs the environment, especially the impact on unpleasant odors and water pollution (the BOD, COD and TSS content of the water around the factory is quite high).

Solution

We developed 400 kg of shrimp shell waste. The machine will be used for local community. The reactor is enabling mechanical and chemical processes at controlled temperature and pressure. This reactor can process 50 kg of shrimp shell waste in one cycle using 2 processes, namely demineralization to become chitin with yield of 15.33% and then the deacetylation process to become chitosan with yield of 9.94%.

The innovation is also integrated with environmental improvement with improving sustainable society through Community development program under PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Fuel Terminal Medan Group.

It also can solve the problem regarding shell waste in surrounding area, and utilizing it into Chitosan that is commercial product that is produced.

Benefit

• Helping PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Fuel Terminal Medan Group in developing the community that involved 18 people with the distribution of members’ residence areas located in Lingkungan 25, Pekan Labuhan Village.

• Helping the community in producing Chitosan that can be applied for several things, such as an adsorbent for heavy metal waste and dyes, preservative, anti-fungal, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, flocculant, anti-cancer and anti-bacterial.