Chitin: a comparison between its main sources
Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide on Earth, after cellulose, and it is mainly obtained from the shells of crustaceans. While chitin is currently derived from shrimp shells, there is a growing interest in commercializing chitin sourced from insects. This review compares chitin from va...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2025.1537067/full |
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| author | Hamzeh Izadi Homa Asadi Marjan Bemani |
| author_facet | Hamzeh Izadi Homa Asadi Marjan Bemani |
| author_sort | Hamzeh Izadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide on Earth, after cellulose, and it is mainly obtained from the shells of crustaceans. While chitin is currently derived from shrimp shells, there is a growing interest in commercializing chitin sourced from insects. This review compares chitin from various sources, including crustaceans, insects, fungi, and mollusks, based on several factors: purity, molecular weight, crystallinity, cost, and sustainability. Although crustaceans yield higher amounts of chitin and exhibit better crystallinity, insects present significant advantages in terms of sustainability, ease of extraction, and lower impurity levels. Chitin derived from insects is emerging as a sustainable alternative due to its simpler extraction processes and reduced environmental impact. This work highlights the increasing potential of insects as a reliable source for sustainable chitin production. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-02f7205f8f3746bea43e3a0b7fecae89 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-8016 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-02f7205f8f3746bea43e3a0b7fecae892025-08-20T02:02:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Materials2296-80162025-03-011210.3389/fmats.2025.15370671537067Chitin: a comparison between its main sourcesHamzeh Izadi0Homa Asadi1Marjan Bemani2Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Valie-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, IranDepartment of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Valie-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, IranCenter for Research and Education of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Kerman Province, Organization of Research, Education and Extension of Agriculture, Rafsanjan, IranChitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide on Earth, after cellulose, and it is mainly obtained from the shells of crustaceans. While chitin is currently derived from shrimp shells, there is a growing interest in commercializing chitin sourced from insects. This review compares chitin from various sources, including crustaceans, insects, fungi, and mollusks, based on several factors: purity, molecular weight, crystallinity, cost, and sustainability. Although crustaceans yield higher amounts of chitin and exhibit better crystallinity, insects present significant advantages in terms of sustainability, ease of extraction, and lower impurity levels. Chitin derived from insects is emerging as a sustainable alternative due to its simpler extraction processes and reduced environmental impact. This work highlights the increasing potential of insects as a reliable source for sustainable chitin production.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2025.1537067/fullinsectschitinchitosancrustaceanarthropoddemineralization |
| spellingShingle | Hamzeh Izadi Homa Asadi Marjan Bemani Chitin: a comparison between its main sources Frontiers in Materials insects chitin chitosan crustacean arthropod demineralization |
| title | Chitin: a comparison between its main sources |
| title_full | Chitin: a comparison between its main sources |
| title_fullStr | Chitin: a comparison between its main sources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chitin: a comparison between its main sources |
| title_short | Chitin: a comparison between its main sources |
| title_sort | chitin a comparison between its main sources |
| topic | insects chitin chitosan crustacean arthropod demineralization |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2025.1537067/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hamzehizadi chitinacomparisonbetweenitsmainsources AT homaasadi chitinacomparisonbetweenitsmainsources AT marjanbemani chitinacomparisonbetweenitsmainsources |