Optimization and Modeling of Chitin Synthesis from Fish Scale using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of process parameters (reaction time, temperature and concentration of acid/base) in the optimization of demineralization and deproteinization processes for chitin synthesis from Oreochromis niloticus waste scale. The processes conditions, the source and pretreatment of raw material significantly affect chitin quality and yield. The effect of these parameters on the quality and yield of the chitin was carried out using statistical design of experiments via central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). The experimental results indicated that the predicted models results could adequately describe the quality and yield of chitin. The results suggested that the optimal condition for chitin synthesis in demineralization; treatment temperature 50 oC, reaction time of 3 h, and concentration of lactic acid 9.76 % with percentage demineralization of 96.91 % and 96.89 % for actual and predicted respectively with yield of 90.3 %. Similarly, deproteinization; reaction time of 3.34 h, concentration of NaOH 6 % and treatment temperature of 70 oC with percentage deproteinization of 95.01 % and 94.21 % for actual and predicted respectively with yield of 92.2 %. The quality of the synthesized chitin have the values of 4.2 %, 0.35 %, 0.96 % and 6.25 g/Kg for Moisture content, Ash content, Crude Protein and Mineral content (g/Kg) respectively, which were within the standard value. These analyses revealed that the quality and yield of the chitin obtained from the Oreochromis niloticus waste scale were due to the effective interaction between input parameters and the responses