Process for Making Chitin Derivatives

Abstract

Disclosed is a process comprising (1) forming an aqueous mixture comprising a microbial composition and solid chitin, wherein said microbial composition comprises one or more microbes that produce chitin digesting enzymes; and (2) fermenting the mixture for a time sufficient to enzymatically digest all or part of the chitin to form a fermented mixture comprising chitosan and glucosamine. In some embodiments, the chitin is derived from the biodegradation of chitin containing marine Arthropods. In other embodiments, the chitin and other components contained in fungi, filamentous fungi and yeast can be obtained, for example, by the biodegradation of chitin containing fungi, filamentous fungi, yeast and/or insects, preferably using HQE for the digestion. In some embodiments, the process is carried out with a solution that already contains chitosan and/or glucosamine such as HYTb, the aqueous fraction obtained from the biodegradation of chitin containing organisms.

1 . A process for increasing the chitosan and/or glucosamine in HYTb comprising:
 forming a mixture comprising HYTb, a microbial composition and solid chitin, wherein said microbial composition comprises one or more microbes that produce chitin digesting enzymes; and   fermenting said mixture for a time sufficient to enzymatically digest all or part of said chitin to form a fermented mixture wherein the amount of at least one of chitosan and glucosamine in said fermented mixture is greater than in said HYTb.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said mixture is diluted to form a diluted mixture and said diluted mixture is fermented to digest all or part of said chitin to form a fermented mixture, wherein the absolute amount of at least one of chitin and glucosamine in said fermented mixture is greater than that in said HYTb. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein HYTc is the source of said chitin. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said HYTc is micronized to form micronized chitin and residual chitin and said chitin comprises said residual chitin 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising separating solids and optionally the microbes and cells from said fermented mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said microbial composition comprises HQE. 
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising the fermented mixture or solution made according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . A process comprising:
 mixing a marine animal or marine animal by-product with a first microbial composition to form a mixture, wherein said first microbial composition contains one or more microbes that produce enzymes that digest said marine animal or by-product into solid, aqueous and lipid fractions, wherein said solid fraction comprises chitin and said aqueous phase comprises amino acids, chitosan and glucosamine;   fermenting said mixture;   separating said mixture into solid, aqueous and lipid fractions, wherein said solid fraction comprises chitin and said aqueous phase comprises chitosan and glucosamine;   forming a second mixture comprising said aqueous fraction, chitin and a second microbial composition, wherein said microbial composition comprises one or more microbes that produce chitin digesting enzymes;   fermenting said second mixture to form a fermented second mixture; and   optionally, separating said fermented second mixture into a second aqueous and second solid fraction, wherein said second aqueous fraction has a higher content of at least one of chitosan and glucosamine as compared to said first aqueous fraction.   
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said second mixture is diluted to form a diluted second mixture and said diluted second mixture is fermented to digest all or part of said chitin to form a second fermented mixture, wherein the absolute amount of at least one of chitin and glucosamine in said second fermented mixture is greater than that in said first aqueous fraction. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 8  wherein HYTc is the source of said chitin. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  wherein said HYTc is micronized to form micronized chitin and residual chitin and said chitin comprises said residual chitin 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 8  further comprising separating solids and optionally the microbes and cells from said fermented mixture. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said second microbial composition comprises HQE. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said first microbial composition comprises HQE. 
     
     
         15 . A composition comprising the second fermented mixture or second aqueous fraction made according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         16 . A process comprising:
 forming a mixture comprising a microbial composition and chitin, wherein said microbial composition comprises one or more microbes that produce chitin digesting enzymes; and   fermenting the mixture for a time sufficient to enzymatically digest all or part of the chitin to form a fermented mixture comprising chitosan and glucosamine.   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  wherein said chitin is derived from a chitin containing source selected from the group consisting of fungi, filamentous fungi, yeast and insects. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16  wherein said microbial composition comprises HQE. 
     
     
         19 . A biodegradation process comprising:
 mixing a chitin containing biological source with a microbial composition to form a mixture, where the first microbial composition contains one or more microbes that produce enzymes that digest the chitin containing biological source   fermenting the mixture; and   separating the mixture into solid, aqueous and lipid fractions, where the solid fraction comprises chitin and the aqueous phase comprises chitosan and glucosamine.   
     
     
         20 . The biodegradation process of  claim 19  wherein said chitin containing biological source is selected from the group consisting of fungi, filamentous fungi, yeast and insects. 
     
     
         21 . The biodegradation process of  claim 19  wherein said microbial composition comprises HQE. 
     
     
         22 . A composition comprising HYTd.