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Summary

A technological institute from Saratov region developed a technology of biopolymer chitosan production from the chitin chemically extracted from chitin-containing raw materials. The technology is featured with a high efficiency and simplicity (very few stages). The product can be applied in the textile, food, cosmetic, paper industry, in agriculture and medicine.
The Institute seeks partners for organization of biopolymer chitosan production and for patenting of the technology abroad.

Full description

Chitosan is a derivative of chitin  a substance extracted from the waste of processing of crustaceans  their crust. Application of this biopolymer for creation of new materials is one of the perspective directions of chemical science and technology. The unique properties of chitosan allow its application in various areas of human activity and search of new areas of use.
The Russian Institute developed and patented an original method for production of chitosan. The method is based on eduction of chitin from the crusts; it then turns into chitosan under the action of hot concentrated alkali in inert gas atmosphere. The authors determined optimum concentration parameters and temperature modes, which allow to raise the production efficiency and to achieve the output of high-grade chitosan. The raw material for chitin production are testas of crayfish, crabs and shrimps, which are the waste of the food-processing industry and public catering.
Chitosan produced by the proposed technology can be used in the textile industry for smoothing and shrinkproofing or water-repellent processing of fabrics; in the paper and photographic industry - for manufacturing of top-quality and special grades of paper, and also for improvement of properties of photographic materials; in the nuclear industry - for localization of radio-activity and concentration of radioactive waste; in medicine - as suture materials, wound- and burn healing bandages, in structure of ointments and various medications; in agriculture - for manufacture of fertilizers, protection of seed material and agricultural crops; in the food-processing industry - as preservative, clarifier for juices and wines, dietary fibre, emulsifying agent; as the food additive it shows the unique results as enterosorbent; in perfumery and cosmetics it forms a part of moisturizing creams, lotions, gels, hairsprays, shampoos; at water treating it serves as a sorbent and precipitator.

Innovative Aspects

The innovation consists in the creation of continuous process of chitosan obtaining, and also in original and more effective scheme for chitin extraction from chitin-containing raw materials.
It is established that implementation of extraction process with a countercurrent method allows not only to raise the intensity and efficiency of the mass-transfer processes taking place at the interface of phases and inside the structure of the crushed crust, but also to reduce considerably the consumption of reagents.

Advantages:
- the proposed technological and hardware solutions and optimum technological parameters allow increasing the productivity by 8 times and achieving production of high-grade chitosan.
- the technology is resource-saving, since it allows reducing by 30 % the amount of used reagents, the number of the needed equipment and the work expense.
- the production cost of the obtained product is ~ 2 times less, than with analogs.
- high level of chemical cleanliness, practically total absence of biological and protein impurities.

Partner expertise sought:

- Type of partner sought: Industry

- Specific area of activity of the partner: food industry, cosmetics, medical dressings

- Task to be performed by the partner sought: Testing of applications, organization of production on the basis of the proposed technology