Modification, Blending, Characterization, and Investigation of Thermal Properties, pH Response of Chitosan-based Polymer Extracted from Labeo rohita Scales

Abstract

Modern shrimp farming began in India during the late 1980s in response to increasing global demand for shrimp and government policies aimed at promoting seafood exports. Corporate entities provided the necessary capital to build hatcheries, farms, and processing plants. However, a survey revealed that the major waste materials generated by these shrimp processing industries in India have become a major problem. In the present work, chitin is extracted and purified from the scale of fish Labeo rohita and modified into chitosan. Chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were blended in various ratios to prepare a composite material and films. The blended material was characterized using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and a few other analyses to understand the polymer’s nature. The work demonstrated that fish scales can serve as a valuable raw material for chitin, chitosan and these polymer-based products. Chitosan, being easily accessible, cost-effective, and biodegradable, has wide-ranging applications in fields like clinical, biomedical, food industry, pharmaceuticals, polymer industries, etc., proper preparation of chitin, chitosan and combination with suitable compounds can lead to desired outcomes.