Green materials expert Prof. Suprakas Sinha Ray says one of the most promising applications for chitin derivatives is in fireproof fibres and plastics, which could be incorporated into firefighter gear and building materials. 

Chitin is a hardy biological molecule that fortifies the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects.  

“South Africa’s seafood industry processes tons of shellfish every year, producing mounds of chitinous waste that could be absorbed into our circular economy and repurposed,” says Ray. 

Through chemical engineering, chitin can be converted into chitosan, a polymer that can be woven into other common synthetic polymers, such as those used to produce fabrics or PVC pipes. Read more...