Environmental Impacts Of Chitosan Extraction From Marine Resources: Towards Greener Alternatives
Keywords:
Chitosan, Green chemistry, Marine waste, Life cycle assessment (LCA)Abstract
Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, is primarily obtained from marine crustaceans such as shrimp and crab shells. While its biodegradability and biocompatibility have positioned it as a sustainable material in biomedical, agricultural, and environmental fields, the conventional extraction processes present significant ecological drawbacks. The chemical-intensive demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation steps rely heavily on hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), resulting in high wastewater salinity, sludge accumulation, and carbon emissions. This paper evaluates the environmental consequences of marine-based chitosan production and highlights emerging green alternatives including enzymatic, ionic liquid, and deep eutectic solvent (DES)-assisted extraction. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) comparisons reveal that insect- and fungal-derived chitosan offer the lowest environmental footprints, aligning with circular economy and sustainable development goals. Future research directions emphasize hybrid extraction technologies, scalable bioreactor systems, and the integration of chitosan production into zero-waste bioeconomy models.
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