Biodegradation of shrimp processing bio-waste and concomitant production of chitinase enzyme and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine by marine bacteria: production and process optimization.

A total of 250 chitinolytic bacteria from 68 different marine samples were screened employing enrichment method that utilized native chitin as the sole carbon source. After thorough screening, five bacteria were selected as potential cultures and identified as; Stenotrophomonas sp. (CFR221 M), Vibrio sp. (CFR173 M), Phyllobacteriaceae sp. (CFR16 M), Bacillus badius (CFR198 M) and Bacillus sp. (CFR188 M). All five strains produced extracellular chitinase and GlcNAc in SSF using shrimp bio-waste. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the ability of these marine bacteria to adsorb onto solid shrimp bio-waste and to degrade chitin microfibers. HPLC analysis of the SSF extract also confirmed presence of 36-65 % GlcNAc as a product of the degradation. The concomitant production of chitinase and GlcNAc by all five strains under SSF using shrimp bio-waste as the solid substrate was optimized by 'one factor at a time' approach. Among the strains, Vibrio sp. CFR173 M produced significantly higher yields of chitinase (4.8 U/g initial dry substrate) and GlcNAc (4.7 μmol/g initial dry substrate) as compared to other cultures tested. A statistically designed experiment was applied to evaluate the interaction of variables in the biodegradation of shrimp bio-waste and concomitant production of chitinase and GlcNAc by Vibrio sp. CFR173 M. Statistical optimization resulted in a twofold increase of chitinase, and a 9.1 fold increase of GlcNAc production. These results indicated the potential of chitinolytic marine bacteria for the reclamation of shrimp bio-waste, as well as the potential for economic production of chitinase and GlcNAc employing SSF using shrimp bio-waste as an ideal substrate.