The invention relates to a chemical and biotechnological process for the production of high-purity chitin from marine waste. The process comprises the following steps: grinding marine waste, such as shrimp or crab, together with water for the production of a crustacean paste; sterilising the paste of crustacean shells; deproteinising the crustacean paste using proteases; filtering the deproteinised paste in order to produce deproteinised solids; demineralising the deproteinised solids using an acid; filtering and neutralising the demineralised paste using a base; depigmenting the solids using alcohol; filtering the depigmented paste; and drying the depigmented, deproteinised and demineralised solids for the production of chitin in flakes. In addition, throughout the process for the production of chitin, other value-added products are also produced, such as proteins of interest digested into amino acids, calcium, sodium or potassium salts, as well as carotenoid pigments. Due to the high purity of the produced chitin, same can be used as a raw material for the production of glucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and chitosan.
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