Physicochemical characterization of chitin from the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Recent insights into the extraction, characterization, and bioactivities of chitin and chitosan from insects

“…The chemical extraction of chitin from insects is explained in Table 1 . Furthermore, NaOH is the preferential inorganic base, and it is applied in various concentrations, ranging from 0.125 to 5.0 M ( Kaya et al, 2014 ; Kaya, Erdogan, Mol, & Baran, 2015 ; M. W.; Kim, Song, Han, et al, 2017 ; Luo et al, 2019 ; Soon, Tee, Tan, Rosnita, & Khalina, 2018 ); at varying temperatures, up to ≥160 °C ( Ibitoye et al, 2018 ; Kaya, Lelešius, et al, 2015 ; Kaya et al, 2016 ; Shin, Kim, & Shin, 2019 ; S.; Wu, 2011 ; Xia, Chen, & Wu, 2013 ); and at various treatment durations (from a few minutes up to a few days) ( Luo et al, 2019 ; N. H. Marei, Abd El-Samie, Salah, Saad, & Elwahy, 2016 ; Mehranian, Pourabad, Bashir, & Taieban, 2017 ; Sajomsang & Gonil, 2010 ; Julliana Isabelle; Simionato, Villalobos, Bulla, Coró, & Garcia, 2014 ; Y. S.; Song et al, 2018 ; Weixing, 2008 ). Alternative methods involving the use of enzymes such as alkaline proteases are emerging and represent a newfound method for protein extraction ( Duong & Nghia, 2014 ; Guo, Sun, Zhang, & Mao, 2019 ).…”

“…This process is commonly achieved by acid treatment using sulphuric, hydrochloric, nitric, acetic, oxalic and formic acids ( Al Sagheer, Al-Sughayer, Muslim, & Elsabee, 2009 ; Srinivasan, Kanayairam, & Ravichandran, 2018 ). In chitin extraction from insects, HCl has been found to be superior to all of these other acids ( Ibitoye et al, 2018 ; Mehranian et al, 2017 ; Percot, Viton, & Domard, 2003 ; Shin et al, 2019 ; Julliana Isabelle; Simionato et al, 2014 ; Y. S.; Song et al, 2018 ). The demineralization process involves the breakdown of calcium carbonate into calcium chloride along with the release of carbon dioxide.…”

Current state of chitin purification and chitosan production from insects

“…A particle size lower than 200-250 μm is suitable for chitin purification. 90,116,117,132 A fat removal step may be required, especially for those insect samples rich in lipids, such as whole larvae. Larvae can be boiled and passed through an extruder or an oil press to separate unpurified chitin from the liquid fraction, containing mainly lipids and some proteins.…”

Ultrastructural and SINS analysis of the cell wall integrity response ofAspergillus nidulansto the absence of galactofuranose

“…Our analyses of the spectra in the 1150-900 cm -1 region are based on peak assignments from spectra of chitin and α-and β-glucans, purified from A. niger, 34 S. cerevisiae, 34,35,37 a moth (Ephestia kuehniella Zeller) and commercial shrimp chitin. 36 The ugmA∆ and ugtA∆ strains have significantly lower peaks than wild type at 1079 cm -1 and significantly higher peaks than wild type at 1130-1155 cm -1 . These absorbance bands are assigned to β-glucan and α-glucan, respectively ( Table 1).…”

“…Overall, spectra of both gene deletion strains exhibit much higher relative intensity than wild type in the 1150 to 900 cm -1 region, variously attributed to carboxymethyl groups of glucans. [34][35][36][37] Amide and chitin bands are well known; however, literature assignments for glucan bands are hampered by problems with sample consistency. Literature values reported for these compounds are often based on partially refined extracts from various natural sources, ranging from shellfish and insects to fungi and yeasts.…”