Research Projects

Chitin, with an annual production of 100 billion tons, is the world's second most enriched biomass. It has naturally fixed nitrogen in the form of amide functionality, providing an ideal resource for accessing organonitrogen compounds to circumvent NH3 synthesis. The "Shell biorefinery" concept was proposed in 2015 to target the fractionation of shells and the catalytic conversion of chitin to nitrogen-containing chemicals and materials. Rapid advancements have been achieved, with various chemical protocols established and over 10 organonitrogen chemicals obtained. However, lower yield, expensive separation process, and environmental degradation deter the application of chemical methods. Biocatalytic conversion, with suitable biological/chemical pretreatment technology and one-pot fermentative conversion of shell waste with tailored biocatalysts, could be helpful in developing an effective economic process for valorizing chitin waste. The hypothesis is that concurrent action of strategies will generate high amounts of glucosamine from crustacean shell waste in one-pot processes with the aid of mechanical and chemical agents. Tailored biocatalysts will be employed for the production of organonitrogens from glucosamine, providing a novel application route for chitin and an alternative, abundant feedstock for sustainable development. The proposed research project aims to generate new knowledge and process innovation to overcome issues pertaining to efficient utilization of chitin by developing a competent bioprocess, which will serve as an excellent entry point for bioconversion of chitin residues into industrially competent products.