Fast extraction of chitosan from shrimp shell by high intensity pulsed electric fields

In order to improve the comprehensive utilization of shrimp shells, chitosan of shrimp shell was extracted by the high intensity pulsed electric fields (PEF). Optimal processing parameters were acquired by the single-factor experiment and quadratic regression rotation design, which were also compared with that of heating method and microwave method. It was found that the PEF method has the features of non-thermal, fast response and high deacetylation compared with traditional methods. The mathematical model of the field strength, pulse number and the concentration of sodium hydroxide on the degree of deacetylation was established, and the optimum condition was that: pulse number 10, field strength 20.48 kV/cm, the concentration of sodium hydroxide 48.64%. Under the optimum condition, the degree of deacetylation reached up to 92.32%. So PEF could be a quick method to prepare chitosan from shrimp shell.