Chitin

Reliable insight into chitin content and the interpretation of protein and crude fiber results

Chitin is a natural biopolymer found in the cell walls of fungi and in the exoskeleton of arthropods such as insects, crustaceans, and spiders. It is the second most abundant biopolymer on Earth after cellulose. Chitin provides strength and structure, for example in the “shell” of insects.

Chemically, chitin is very similar to cellulose. While cellulose is composed of glucose units, chitin consists of N-acetylglucosamine, a modified form of glucose. As a result, chitin is difficult to break down and poorly digestible, and in many applications it is considered a fiber-like component.

Within the insect value chain, chitin is becoming increasingly relevant as a parameter, mainly due to its impact on the interpretation of nutritional analyses such as protein and crude fiber.

Why is chitin an important parameter in the insect industry?

Protein determination is often based on nitrogen analysis using a conversion factor. Chitin contains nitrogen within its molecular structure. As a result, chitin can contribute to the measured nitrogen content, even though chitin itself is not a protein.

The consequence: the reported protein content may be overestimated when chitin is present in the product.

By determining chitin as a separate parameter, you gain insight into this contribution and can better interpret protein results, especially for insect-based products.

For whom is chitin analysis relevant?

Our chitin determination is particularly relevant for:

Insect producers and processors
Pet food producers (insect protein as a novel protein source)
Aquafeed and the fish sector
Animal feed sector
Customers working with insect meal, insect oil, or insect fractions
Producers and users of frass (insect fertilizer)

Note: the method is currently primarily designed for insect-based products and is not yet suitable for matrices such as fungi, yeasts, or algae.

What does the chitin content say about your product?

Chitin content can vary significantly depending on the product type and fraction. In practice:

Whole insects or insect meal can contain relatively high levels of chitin
Frass (the excrement and shed skins of insect larvae, used as an organic fertilizer) generally contains lower levels of chitin

Variation may also arise due to differences in raw material composition, processing, and sampling. Representative sampling is therefore essential for reliable results.

Validation and reliability of the method

NutriControl has internally validated the chitin determination method. A highly purified chitin standard was used, which was added in known percentages during analysis. The added amount was accurately recovered, demonstrating that no relevant loss occurs during the method.

Repeatability and reproducibility have been established in accordance with quality criteria suitable for an ISO 17025 working environment.

At present, no proficiency tests are available, as chitin analysis is still offered only on a limited scale within the market.

Sampling and submission

Reliable results start with a representative sample. Chitin may be unevenly distributed within a batch, for example due to variation in the ratio between “exoskeleton” and “internal fraction.”

Practical submission guidelines:

Wet raw materials: deliver refrigerated
Dry meals and powders: deliver at room temperature
Ensure sufficient quantity and proper sealed packaging
Clearly state product type and batch information

Turnaround time

The standard turnaround time for chitin analysis is 20 working days.
Do you have an urgent request? Please contact our customer service to discuss available options.

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