The part of the shrimp most people throw away could turn out to be the most valuable part, according to researchers in Thailand. That's because the shells of shrimp, crab and other crustaceans contain chitin, a starchy, plastic-like compound that some scientists believe is one of nature's most generous gifts.
Chitin is, after wood, the most plentiful organic fiber on Earth.
Researchers at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok say this resource could be used to create everything from wonder drugs to biodegradable plastics and crop enhancers for farmers. Chitin can also be used to heal wounds and as an agent in paper and textile manufacturing, says Willem F. Stevens , a researcher at the Asian Institute of Technology. Shrimp shell soup used to make chitin To extract chitin, the researchers create a purification bath for the shrimp shells. It's antifungal and antibacterial, but so easy on the skin that chitin membranes are being tested as a treatment for serious burn wounds. Made into a waxy paper, chitin is nontoxic and quick to biodegrade.