Biopolymers from African Giant Snail Shells Waste: Isolation and Characterization

摘要

Shell Wastes of two species of African giant snail Achatina achatina and Achatina mareinata were investigated as a source of chitosan. The snail shell chitosan yield was 46.37% and 35.85% for Aj_ achatina and A± mareiinata respectively, had a degree of deacetylation of 72-79%, a viscosity of 5.3-5.5 centipoises (cP), and a wettability of 3-1 Is. The moisture content was 3%, ash 79-82%, and crude fibre 10-13%. Fat was notably absent.