Chitosan production from the extracted chitin of crustacean exoskeletons for various human applications: a proposal of environmental sustainability

This research addresses, through a bibliographic review, the amount of waste generated in the process of processing crustaceans, the ways in which these residues are made available according to current laws and regulations and a proposal to reuse the chitin of crustacean exoskeletons. These, despite being biodegradable for a certain time, can cause damage to the environment and human health, when disposed of incorrectly. Thus, it is suggested the extraction of chitin, a biopolymer that constitutes most of the exoskeletons of insects, crustaceans and fungi cell wall and the second most abundant in nature, for the production of chitosan, which is studied the production of biofilm with medicinal properties, being an alternative for regional development. Another important factor is the fact of the low toxicity presented by chitin and chitosan, which makes research even more feasible.