| Ref.No: | 61414100 |
| Start date: | 21.05.2025 |
| End date: | 31.05.2026 |
| Approval date: | 21.05.2025 |
| Department: | CHEMICAL ENGINEERING |
| Sector: | SYNTHESIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES |
| Financier: | ΕΠΙΤΕΛΙΚΗ ΔΟΜΗ ΕΣΠΑ, ETHNIKO TAMEIO ANAKAMPSIS KAI ANTHEKTIKOTITAS/UP. PAIDEIAS THRISK & ATHLITISMOU |
| Budget: | 335.450,10 € |
| Public key: | ΨΩΦ146ΨΖΣ4-5ΗΚ |
| Scientific Responsible: | Assoc. Prof. MARIA GIANNAKOUROU |
| Email: | mgian@chemeng.ntua.gr |
| Description: | THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH PROPOSAL IS THE UTILIZATION OF BLUE CRAB AND MUSSEL BY-PRODUCTS (SHELLS) AS ADDITIVES IN RATIONS FOR FARM ANIMALS, AS WELL AS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH VALUE FOOD INGREDIENTS. THE EXOSKELETON OF SHELLFISH AND CRUSTACEANS CONTAINS MINERALS, THE NATURAL POLYMER CHITIN AND PROTEINS. THIS BIO-BASED CACO3 WILL THEN BE USED (AFTER APPROPRIATE ENGINEERING PROCESSES TO ACHIEVE A SUITABLE FORM AND PARTICLE SIZE) IN POULTRY RATIONS TO REPLACE THE MINERAL SOURCE (MARBLE DUST) OF CALCIUM, WHICH IS CURRENT PRACTICE. IN ADDITION, CHITIN WILL BE PRODUCED BY MILLING, REMOVAL OF MINERALS AND DEPROTEINISATION. THE CHITIN IS CONVERTED INTO CHITOSAN BY DEACETYLATION (CHEMICAL CONVERSION). THE CHITOSAN CAN BE USED TO PRODUCE HIGH VALUE-ADDED ITEMS SUCH AS FOOD PACKAGING FILMS WITH ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES AND SCAFFOLDS FOR CELL CULTURES. |
