A process for recovering chitin from chitinkilder which it is found together with or bound to the protein substances

摘要

A process according to which chitin and possibly astaxanthin are recovered from chitin sources, particularly shrimp and krill shells, by demineralization with an acid and removal of protein using the enzymatic activity of fish viscera. The chitin-decomposing enzymatic activity of the fish viscera is suppressed by treatment of the viscera with acid at pH 1.2 to 2.5, preferably 1.5 to 2.5, prior to or during the removal of protein. The recovering may be effected in the presence of an oil, preferably from cod liver, extracting the astaxanthin.