Development of ultra-high performance liquid chromatographic and fluorescent method for the analysis of insect chitin

A precise quantification of insect chitin is needed in order to avoid overestimation crude protein due chitin-bound nitrogen. An UPLC/FLR method was optimized and validated for the determination glucosamine (GlcN) hydrolyzed from materials. The applied quantifying content mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) crickets (Acheta domesticus). baseline separation obtained using an Acquity HSS T3 C18 column, with external calibration curve excellent linearity, a low limit detection GlcN. Even though recovery GlcN spiked cricket material slightly lower compared that spectrophotometric method, proved sensitive specific chitin. Chitin contents T. molitor A. domesticus were 4.6 ± 0.1% 4.5 0.0% on dry matter basis, respectively. Less than 0.01% present protein-enriched fractions extracted 0.1 N NaCl at pH 10.