Optimization of lactic fermentation for extraction of chitin from freshwater shrimp waste

Freshwater shrimp shells from the shrimp farming activity in tanks, were processed for biological extraction of chitin, by fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from meat products, offering an advantageous demineralization and deproteination of the residue, replacing the chemically. Deproteination was obtained approximately 99% and demineralization of up to 87% using batch fermentations with a maximum of 72 hours and the use of simple strategies such as pH adjustment and reinoculation. The performance of chitin was about 40% greater than in the chemical extraction and the results indicate an interesting method in the process of production of chitosan, where the biopolymer chitin is precursor.