Extraction of chitosan from Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) shell waste and its application in the cultivation of aquatic plants (Bacopa caroliniana)

Abstract

This research aims to extract chitosan from white shrimp shell waste using a chemical method. The extracted chitosan was then used to enhance growth in Bacopa caroliniana cultures. The extraction process yielded 34.01 % chitin from the white shrimp shell waste. The chitosan yield was 95.89 % from the chitin and 32.69 % from the shrimp shells by weight. Subsequently, the chitosan extract was used to study the growth of B. caroliniana. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with 3 replications and 4 treatments: 1) planted in soil without chitosan + water without chitosan (control group), 2) planted in soil mixed with 80 ml of chitosan/500 g of soil + water without chitosan, 3) planted in soil without chitosan + water without chitosan + sprayed with 500 ppm chitosan solution every 7 days, and 4) planted in soil without chitosan + water mixed with 875 ml of chitosan/35 L of water. The cultivation period lasted 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the results showed that B. caroliniana had leaf counts of 29.29, 38.83, 33.33, and 36.80 leaves, respectively (p>0.05); leaf lengths of 1.24, 1.44, 1.42, and 1.60 centimeters, respectively (p<0.05); leaf widths of 1.00, 1.02, 1.02, and 1.06 centimeters, respectively (p<0.05); and stalk heights of 7.10, 9.03, 8.61, and 10.30 centimeters, respectively (p<0.05). Therefore, the use of chitosan extract from white shrimp shell waste can promote the growth of B. caroliniana. Chitosan can be employed in various forms, including mixing it into planting soil, dissolving it in planting water, or applying it as a spray.