Isolation and characterization of chitin from Galeodes araneoides (Pallas, 1772) (Arachnida: Solifugae)

As a renewable resource and biopolymer chitin can be used in many fields such as medicine, food, agriculture, cosmetics, pharmacy, waste water treatment and textile industry. Therefore, it is a attractive biopolymer and new chitin sources are constantly being investigated. In this study, chitin was isolated from Galeodes araneoides(Pallas, 1772) species for the first time and chitin was characterised by using SEM, FTIR, XRD and TGA devices. In the alpha form of the obtained chitin, it was observed that its thermal stability was 334.7℃, Crl value was 51.14% and its surface morphology showed a fibrous structure containing many pores. In terms of the physicochemical properties determined, it is thought that this solifugid species may be an alternative chitin source.