The objective of this study was to optimize the extraction of chitin by acid proteolysis. The novelty of the method is based on the stabilization of pH by the balance between substrate composition and the acid solvent. This principle allows a simultaneous demineralization and deproteinization, the two main reactions associated with the purification of chitin. To evaluate the performance of this purification, the composition of the substrate and products was characterized. Different methods of quantification of chitin and proteins have been compared. As traditional assays were not satisfaying, a direct method of amino acids determination by gaz chromatography was selected to estimate the amount of protein. The estimate of chitin amount was based on indirect... |