Abstract

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Chitin was isolated from locust using a standard procedure as described in literature with slight modifications. Chitosan was then synthesized from the isolated chitin by treatment with 50% concentration of NaOH, the degree of the deacetylation obtained was 64.4% using Potentiometer Titration method. Both chitin and chitosan ash content and moisture content were then analyzed. They were then characterized using FTIR, TGA, DSC and XRD and the results compared with chitin and chitosan obtained from other sources and they thus show similar physicochemical and chemical structure. Thus locust is a promising alternative source for both chitin and chitosan.

Keywords: chitin, chitosan, locust, isolation, characterization, FTIR, TGA, DSC, XRD