Chitin Determination in Residual Streams Derived From Insect Production by LC-ECD and LC-MS/MS Methods

Chitin, a biopolymer present in fungi and arthropods, is compound of interest for various applications, such as the agricultural medical fields. With recently growing development insect farming, availability chitin-containing residual streams, particularly molting skins (exuviae), expected to increase near future. For application purposes, accurate quantification chitin these sources essential. Previous studies on extraction often overlooked purity extracted chitin, making outcomes inconsistent prone overestimation. The study aims determine content exuviae three species mass-reared worldwide: black soldier fly (BSF), mealworm, house cricket. Chitin was chemically using acid alkali treatments remove minerals proteins. evaluated by hydrolyzing into glucosamine, followed quantitative determination latter two liquid chromatography methods: electrochemical detection (ECD) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Both methods proved precise, without need labor-intensive derivatization steps. Pearson's correlation Bland-Altman plots showed that glucosamine results obtained were comparable, there no consistent bias one approach vs. other. residues ranged between 7.9 18.5%, with highest amount found BSF puparium. In summary, demonstrated (1) streams farming industry have great potential utilization an alternative source, (2) both LC-ECD LC-MS/MS are reliable chitin.