Produção e caracterização de membranas obtidas a partir da quitosana derivada da quitina presente na cutícula do inseto Rhynchophorus palmarum

Abstract

Chitosan is a polysaccharide derived from chitin present in exoskeletons of several animals and has been highlighted by its great potential for use in the manufacture of biomaterials in several areas. Among these uses, the production of polymeric membranes for biotechnological application can be highlighted. This study aimed to produce and characterize the physicochemical properties of membranes prepared from chitosan (derived from Rhynchophorus palmarum) and poly(vinyl alcohol), a synthetic polymer. From the exoskeleton of R. palmarum, the extraction of chitin occurred following the steps of pretreatment, demineralization and deproteinization, with an approximate yield of 17%. Chitosan was obtained through alkaline deacetylation of chitin, characterized and compared to the commercial standard. With the starting materials, membranes were produced based on chitosan, based on PVA and chitosan/PVA. All membranes were characterized by Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), where it was possible to visualize through the data the stretch of the chitosan membranes (CH - 2850, C=O - 1636, NH - 1537 cm-1 ), PVA membranes (OH - 3354, CH - 2914, CO - 1090 cm-1 ) and for chitosan/PVA membranes (CH - 2952, RCOOH - 1723, NH - 1537-1541 cm-1 ). They were also characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), having then the structural evolution of the membranes. The changes observed in the chitosan/PVA membrane indicate that an interaction between the polymers occurred. More physicochemical tests should be carried out to better elucidate this biomaterial.