GSJ: Volume 9, Issue 10, October 2021

ISSN 2320-9186 2391

GSJ: Volume 9, Issue 10, October 2021, Online: ISSN 2320-9186

www.globalscientificjournal.com

ARTICLE REVIEW: THE UTILIZATION OF CHITOSAN EXTRACTED FROM FISH

SCALES FOR BIOPLASTIK
Fathia Nur Islamay Hafizh1, Junianto2
1) Student, Study program of fisheries, Padjadjaran University
2) Lecturer staff, Departement of Fisheries, Padjadjaran University

KeyWords
Biodegradable, mixing, waste, chitin.

ABSTRACT
Waste from the fish fillet industry includes fish scales. One of the compounds contained in fish scales is chitin
which can be acetylated into chitosan. This article aims to examine the manufacture of bioplastics from chito-
san extracted from fish scales. Based on the results of the literature study above, it can be concluded that the
manufacture of bioplastics from chitosan extracted from fish scales is through the stages of mixing (chitosan,
acetic acid and sorbitol), molding and drying.

INTRODUCTION
The potential of the fishery processing industry in Indonesia is very high, seen from the number of fish
processing factories. The by-products of fish processing have the potential to cause environmental damage.
According to Ifa et al (2018), the fish processing industry only uses the meat, which is 40-50%. The rest be-
comes waste such as scales, skin, bones, gills and also internal organs. Environmental damage that occurs can
be in the form of the emergence of unpleasant odors that can interfere with activities and also the health of
the surrounding community, reduce beauty and reduce water quality in the waste disposal environment. One
way to reduce pollution and make fishery waste has economic value is to process and utilize it, one of which is
fishery waste in the form of fish scales which can be made into additional materials in the manufacture of bi-
oplastics.
Bioplastics (Biodegradable plastics) are environmentally friendly plastics that can be made from starch,
cellulose in plants and PLA (Polylactic Acids) (Ramadhani and Firdhausi 2021). In addition, bioplastics can also
be made from chitosan. This chitosan is used as an additional material in the manufacture of bioplastics that
can improve the characteristics of these bioplastics and chitosan has non-toxic and biodegradable hydrophobic
properties (Ramadhani and Firdausi 2021). Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin which has the molecu-
lar formula (C6H9NO3)n.
One source of raw material for making chitosan from fish waste is fish scales because the material con-
tains chitin. The isolation process of chitosan from chitin is generally carried out in three processes, namely
deproteination, demineralization and deacetylation (Fadli et al 2018). The physical properties of bioplastics can
be seen from the thickness and water absorption (swelling) which affect whether or not the bioplastics from

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 GSJ: Volume 9, Issue 10, October 2021
ISSN 2320-9186 2392

fish scale waste chitosan are used. This article aims to examine the manufacture of bioplastics from chitosan
extracted from fish scales.
Fish scales
Fish scales are part of the integumentary system which has a function as the outermost defense of the fish's
body. Fish scales can be divided into 5 types, namely placoid, ganoid, cycloid, cosmoid and ctenoid (Fitriana
2021). The placoid type has a tapered shape resembling fine spines coated with enamel, this type is owned by
stingrays and sharks, ganoid scales have a rhombus-like shape and are owned by alligator fish, cycloid scales
have a slightly oval shape with growth lines for example carp and type Ctenoids are slightly oval in shape and
have teeth on one side, for example, tilapia.
Fish scale content
Fish scales have nutritional components, namely 70% water content, 27% protein, 2% ash content and 1%
fat (Fadilla et al 2019). Fish scales are also reported to contain calcium, alkaloids, steroids, chitin, saponins and
phenols. Wibowo (2016) also reported that the proximate content of fish scales is 33.4% water content, 0.55%
protein, 22.5% ash and 35.35% fat. Talumepa et al (2016) also reported that the content of dried marine fish
scales generally had 11% water content, 30% protein, 39% ash, 5% fat, and 15% carbohydrates. The chemical
content of fish scales is influenced by the type, habitat and size of the fish (Ramadhani and Firdhausi 2021).
Use of fish scales
Fish scales are part of the waste generated from the fish fillet industry. Fish scale waste that continues to ac-
cumulate without any processing will create an unpleasant odor and can eliminate the beauty of an environ-
ment.
Several uses of fish scales have been reported by several researchers. According to Dewantoro et al, (2019),
fish scales can be used as gelatin which is applied to thicken syrup. Setyowati (2015) informed the manufacture
of cosmeceutical from fish scale collagen. Other information also states that chitosan from fish scales can be
used as an additional material in the manufacture of bioplastics. According to Ramdhani and Firdhausi (2021),
chitosan can be used to reduce metal levels in water, as a preservative, in the fields of food, health and agricul-
ture.

Chitosan
Chitosan has a yellowish white color produced from chitin and has the same chemical structure as chitin. In
the manufacture of chitosan, it is divided into two stages, namely isolation of chitin in the form of deproteina-
tion, demineralization and depigmentation, then followed by the process of chitin deacetylation by reacting it
with a high concentration of alkali for a long time and high temperature to become chitosan (Setha 2019).
Chitosan can be obtained with various morphological forms including irregular structures, crystalline or se-
micrystalline forms. In addition, it can also be in the form of a white amorphous solid with a fixed crystal struc-
ture from the initial form of pure chitin. Chitin has high biological and mechanical properties including biore-
newable, biodegradable, and biofunctional. Chitosan has shorter chains than chitin chains. Chitosan solubility
in acid solution and viscosity (Pratiwi 2014).
Bioplastic
Plastic is a packaging material used for household needs, wrapping food and drinks and other necessities,
because plastic is light and the price is affordable, but in its use, plastic has a negative impact on environmen-
tal sustainability because plastic is difficult to degrade. Several studies have been carried out to reduce the use
of plastic or replace it with environmentally friendly packaging, namely biodegradable plastic or bioplastic. Bi-
oplastics are plastics that can be degraded in a short time made of natural polymer materials such as starch,
cellulose and fat and the main ingredients that are often used in the manufacture of biodegradable plastics are
starch and Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) (Kamsiati 2017). In addition, as one of the uses in processing fish waste, biop-
lastics can also be made from fish scales (Aziz 2017).

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 GSJ: Volume 9, Issue 10, October 2021
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Bioplastic Manufacturing Process

How to make chitosan from fish scales for bioplastics according to Aziz et al (2017)
a) Sample Preparation
The fish scale waste is cleaned and dried until the fish scales become brittle to facilitate the flouring process.
Drying is done using an oven to produce a fine powder of fish scales
b) Chitin isolation
Isolation of chitin from fish scale powder consisted of two stages, namely deproteination and demineraliza-
tion. Fish scales powder that has been deproteinized is mixed and stirred in a 3.5% NaOH solution with a ratio
of fish scales to NaOH 1:10 (m/v) at 100oC for 2 hours. The results obtained were filtered and washed with dis-
tilled water until the pH was neutral and then dried in an oven at 50°C for 3 until the precipitate was dry
enough. The deproteination product was then demineralized by reacting the deproteination product in 1 N HCl
solution with a ratio of 1:6 (m/v) at room temperature for 30 minutes. The results obtained were filtered and
washed with distilled water until the pH was neutral and then dried in an oven at 50°C for 3 hours or until the
precipitate was dry enough.
c) Chitosan Preparation
Chitosan preparation was carried out by breaking the acetyl group contained in the chitin extract from fish
scales. The deacetylation process was carried out by dissolving chitin in 50% NaOH for 1 hour at a temperature
of 100oC with a ratio of 1:10 (m/v). The results obtained were filtered and washed with distilled water until the
pH was neutral and then dried in an oven at 50°C for 3 hours or until the precipitate was dry enough.
d) Production of bioplastics
Bioplastics were made by dissolving 2 grams of chitosan in 25 mL of 1% acetic acid at 60oC for 1 hour while
stirring constantly. The solution was then given 1 mL of sorbitol and stirred again at 60oC for 15 minutes or un-
til quite thick. The solution is then printed on aluminum foil, a glass container, and a cement mold which is
then baked at a temperature of 60oC until the plastic solidifies.

Figure 1. Bioplastic made from chitosan from fish scales

(Source: Aziz et al 2017)

Bioplastic Marketing
Bioplastics have been marketed in various e-commerce but there are not many types (Figure 2)

Figure 2. Bioplastic products

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Bioplastic Physical Properties of Fish Scales

The physical properties of bioplastics from fish scale chitosan are seen from the water absorption
(swelling) and thickness

a) Swelling test

The swelling test was carried out to determine the ability and resistance of bioplastics to water (Maladi 2019).
The test method is to immerse the plastic in water so that the percentage of plastic development can be de-
termined after being soaked in water. The value of this test can determine the physical properties of the plas-
tic whether it is waterproof or not. The higher the swelling test value, the more difficult it is for bioplastics to
disintegrate in water even though the absorption capacity is high and vice versa when the swelling value is
low, the bioplastics are more easily destroyed in water due to the presence of H2O that diffuses into it (Augus-
tin et al 2016). According to Coniwanti et al (2014) the higher the water resistance value in bioplastics, the
higher the water resistance value in bioplastics will indicate that the bioplastics have good water holding ca-
pabilities, and if the water resistance values are lower, the bioplastic properties are bad.

b) Thickness of bioplastic
Thickness is a characteristic in determining a bioplastic film to the speed of transfer of water vapor, gas and
other volatile compounds, the thickness of bioplastics is influenced by several factors, one of which is the ad-
dition of chitosan, a high concentration of chitosan will affect the thickness of the bioplastic, the thickness of
the bioplastic is measured using a micrometer screw (Ramadhani 2021)

Conclusion
Based on the results of the literature study above, it can be concluded that the manufacture of bioplastics
from chitosan extracted from fish scales is through the stages of mixing (chitosan, acetic acid and sorbitol),
molding and drying.
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