International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 06 | Jun 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
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Development and characterization of bioplastic based on chitosan synthesized using Mierspenaeopsis hardwickii shells Nirmitee Gudekar1, Mitali Dandage2 1Third Year student of B.Sc. Biotechnology, Dept. of Biotechnology, Modern college of Arts, Science and Commerce,
Shivajinagar, Pune-05, Maharashtra, India
2Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biotechnology, Modern college of Arts, Science and Commerce, Shivajinagar, Pune-05,
Maharashtra, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract - The rising demand for plastics has led to a
coastal and urban zones, contribute to soil deterioration, water pollution, and disruption of ecological equilibrium. Despite these drawbacks, plastic is an integral part of modern life due to its properties like flexibility, versatility, moisture resistance, lightweight and affordability. [2] As a result of these health and environmental effects, scientists have been exploring substitute, biodegradable materials to replace conventional synthetic plastics. To make this bioplastic, there are several sources of renewable biomass like plants, algae, or microorganisms, which offer a promising solution to the issue of plastic waste. However, the production of bioplastics can be expensive and compete with food crops for land, water, and other food resources. Therefore, there is a need to explore alternative, non-food biomass sources for bioplastic production.
significant growth in plastic waste, creating a substantial threat to the environment. In response to this, researchers are exploring an alternative, biodegradable plastic to replace traditional synthetic plastics. This study focuses on the development of bioplastics from Mierspenaeopsis hardwickii shrimp shells, a readily available and renewable resource. We extracted chitin from shells and converted it into chitosan via few steps like demineralization, deproteinization and deacetylation. Further, chitosan was characterized by studying its moisture content, solubility, degree of deacetylation and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Then characterized chitosan was used to produce bioplastic films by adding components like starch, Glacial Acetic Acid and Glycerine. The resulting bioplastics exhibited excellent properties and biodegradability. One film without chitosan was also prepared and characterized with films which were made with chitosan. Our findings suggest that shrimp shell chitosan-based bioplastics have the potential to replace traditional plastics in various applications, reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste.
Shrimp shells, a waste byproduct of the seafood industry, are easily available and renewable resource which can be used to produce bioplastics. Shrimp shells are rich in chitin, a polysaccharide that can be converted into chitosan, a biodegradable and non-toxic polymer. [3] For this purpose, we can also use Mierspenaeopsis hardwickii which is popularly known as spear shrimp which are found mostly on seafloor at the depth of up to 90 meters and at sandy mud. [4] Chitin is the second most abundant natural polymer after cellulose. Chitosan is well known for its mechanical strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability and thus explored for various applications, including biomedical devices, water treatment, food packaging while some studies have shown that chitosan-based materials exhibit high tensile strength and thermal stability, which are essential for various industrial applications also. [5], [6]
Key Words: Biodegradable plastic 1, Synthetic Plastic 2, Mierspenaeopsis hardwickii 3, Chitin 4, Chitosan 5
1.INTRODUCTION In today’s era of swift industrialization and economic growth, countries like India are emerging as major players in global economy. However, this progress is accompanied by a significant increase in waste production, especially plastic waste, which poses severe environmental issues. According to the report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) 2020-21, Maharashtra generates plastic waste approximately 3,11,254 tonnes per annum. Among the states, Maharashtra contributes the big share of plastic waste, with metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Pune identified as major contributors due to their dense populations, booming industries, and consumer-driven lifestyles.[1] The widespread distribution and uncontrolled as well as unregulated deposition of plastic across land and water bodies have caused the environmental challenges. The poor practice of dumping and littering, especially in
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Fig No.1: Male Mierspenaeopsis hardwickii [4]
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