Chitin-based pulps: Structure-property relationships and environmental sustainability

Luiz G. Greca; Ainara Azpiazu; Guillermo Reyes; Orlando J. Rojas; Blaise L. Tardy; Erlantz Lizundia

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121561

Chitin-based pulps: Structure-property relationships and environmental sustainability

Luiz G. Greca^*
, Ainara Azpiazu
, Guillermo Reyes
, Orlando J. Rojas^*
, Blaise L. Tardy
, Erlantz Lizundia^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Not published at VTT

Aalto University
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)
University of the Basque Country
University of British Columbia
Khalifa University of Science and Technology
Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The deconstruction and valorization of chitinous biomass from crustaceans is a promising route for sustainable bioproduct development alternative to petroleum-based materials. However, chitin nanocrystal and chitin nanofibril isolation from crustacean shells is often subjected to extensive processing, compromising their environmental and cost sustainability. To address the sustainability challenge that chitin valorization presents, herein we introduce a mild fibrillation route to generate “chitin pulp”; where a careful control of the macro- and micro-fibrillated chitin with protein and mineral components yields tailored properties. Films produced from protein-rich chitin pulp showed ultimate strength of up to 93 ± 7 MPa. The surface energy and wetting behavior, going from hydrophilic to nearly-hydrophobic, could be tailored as a function of pulp composition. Life cycle assessment of the protein-rich chitin pulps demonstrated that the global warming potential of chitin pulp is reduced by 2 to 3 times when compared to chitin nanocrystals. Overall, this work presents a new and potentially scalable route for the generation of chitin-based materials having a reduced environmental footprint compared to nanochitins and chitosan, thus opening a new route for the valorization of chitin beyond nanochitin for the development of environmentally and economically sustainable materials.

Original language	English
Article number	121561
Journal	Carbohydrate Polymers
Volume	325
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121561
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2024
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Global Training program of the Basque Government ; the “2021 Euskampus Missions 1.0. Programme” granted by Euskampus Fundazioa; the University of the Basque Country (Convocatoria de ayudas a grupos de investigación, GIU21/010 ); the European Commission Horizon 2020 ERC Advanced program (grant agreement No. 788489 “BioElCell”); the Canada Excellence Research Chair Program ( CERC-2018-00006 ) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (Project number 38623 ). BLT is the recipient of the Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KUST) Faculty Startup Project (Project code: 84741140-FSU-2022-021 ).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

Bioeconomy
Chitin
Environmental impact
Green chemistry
Life cycle assessment
Pulp

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10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121561Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Chitin-based pulps: Structure-property relationships and environmental sustainability",

abstract = "The deconstruction and valorization of chitinous biomass from crustaceans is a promising route for sustainable bioproduct development alternative to petroleum-based materials. However, chitin nanocrystal and chitin nanofibril isolation from crustacean shells is often subjected to extensive processing, compromising their environmental and cost sustainability. To address the sustainability challenge that chitin valorization presents, herein we introduce a mild fibrillation route to generate “chitin pulp”; where a careful control of the macro- and micro-fibrillated chitin with protein and mineral components yields tailored properties. Films produced from protein-rich chitin pulp showed ultimate strength of up to 93 ± 7 MPa. The surface energy and wetting behavior, going from hydrophilic to nearly-hydrophobic, could be tailored as a function of pulp composition. Life cycle assessment of the protein-rich chitin pulps demonstrated that the global warming potential of chitin pulp is reduced by 2 to 3 times when compared to chitin nanocrystals. Overall, this work presents a new and potentially scalable route for the generation of chitin-based materials having a reduced environmental footprint compared to nanochitins and chitosan, thus opening a new route for the valorization of chitin beyond nanochitin for the development of environmentally and economically sustainable materials.",

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AU - Greca, Luiz G.

AU - Azpiazu, Ainara

AU - Reyes, Guillermo

AU - Rojas, Orlando J.

AU - Tardy, Blaise L.

AU - Lizundia, Erlantz

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N2 - The deconstruction and valorization of chitinous biomass from crustaceans is a promising route for sustainable bioproduct development alternative to petroleum-based materials. However, chitin nanocrystal and chitin nanofibril isolation from crustacean shells is often subjected to extensive processing, compromising their environmental and cost sustainability. To address the sustainability challenge that chitin valorization presents, herein we introduce a mild fibrillation route to generate “chitin pulp”; where a careful control of the macro- and micro-fibrillated chitin with protein and mineral components yields tailored properties. Films produced from protein-rich chitin pulp showed ultimate strength of up to 93 ± 7 MPa. The surface energy and wetting behavior, going from hydrophilic to nearly-hydrophobic, could be tailored as a function of pulp composition. Life cycle assessment of the protein-rich chitin pulps demonstrated that the global warming potential of chitin pulp is reduced by 2 to 3 times when compared to chitin nanocrystals. Overall, this work presents a new and potentially scalable route for the generation of chitin-based materials having a reduced environmental footprint compared to nanochitins and chitosan, thus opening a new route for the valorization of chitin beyond nanochitin for the development of environmentally and economically sustainable materials.

AB - The deconstruction and valorization of chitinous biomass from crustaceans is a promising route for sustainable bioproduct development alternative to petroleum-based materials. However, chitin nanocrystal and chitin nanofibril isolation from crustacean shells is often subjected to extensive processing, compromising their environmental and cost sustainability. To address the sustainability challenge that chitin valorization presents, herein we introduce a mild fibrillation route to generate “chitin pulp”; where a careful control of the macro- and micro-fibrillated chitin with protein and mineral components yields tailored properties. Films produced from protein-rich chitin pulp showed ultimate strength of up to 93 ± 7 MPa. The surface energy and wetting behavior, going from hydrophilic to nearly-hydrophobic, could be tailored as a function of pulp composition. Life cycle assessment of the protein-rich chitin pulps demonstrated that the global warming potential of chitin pulp is reduced by 2 to 3 times when compared to chitin nanocrystals. Overall, this work presents a new and potentially scalable route for the generation of chitin-based materials having a reduced environmental footprint compared to nanochitins and chitosan, thus opening a new route for the valorization of chitin beyond nanochitin for the development of environmentally and economically sustainable materials.

KW - Bioeconomy

KW - Chitin

KW - Environmental impact

KW - Green chemistry

KW - Life cycle assessment

KW - Pulp

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Chitin-based pulps: Structure-property relationships and environmental sustainability

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

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