About This Project

Chitosan, a natural flocculant used in water treatment and various other applications, is traditionally produced unsustainably using toxic methods from marine crustacean sources. We hypothesize that by using a green Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) process, we can sustainably produce chitosan from organic waste-fed black soldier flies (BSF). Scaling our lab-method to a 10L pilot will assess its potential as an eco friendly alternative for large-scale water purification.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Access to clean water remains a pressing global challenge, as millions suffer from exposure to pathogens, heavy metals, and pollutants in contaminated water sources. Traditional water treatment methods often depend on synthetic chemicals, which can be environmentally harmful and costly. Simultaneously, conventional chitin extraction methods use harsh chemicals and high energy inputs, contradicting sustainability goals. My team and I have developed a green extraction method using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) to derive chitin from black soldier flies and convert it into chitosan, a biodegradable biopolymer with strong water purification potential. This project seeks to scale our lab-scale DES extraction method to a pilot level, paving the way for sustainable, circular-economy-based water treatment technologies that reduce environmental impact and create value from insect biomass.

What is the significance of this project?

This project represents a convergence of green chemistry, biotechnology, and environmental remediation. By scaling a sustainable extraction process for chitosan using deep eutectic solvents (DES) which are green solvents with minimal environmental impact, we’re tackling both pollution and chemical waste at once. Chitosan is a powerful, biodegradable material with exceptional coagulation and flocculation properties, capable of removing pathogens, heavy metals, and organic contaminants from water. Unlike synthetic alternatives, our process avoids harsh chemicals and enables circular use of insect waste. By supporting this project, backers enable the development of scalable, eco-friendly water treatment solutions while advancing the commercial viability of insect-derived biopolymers. The outcomes will contribute to cleaner water, reduced reliance on toxic chemicals, and the growth of a bioeconomy centered on sustainable practices.

What are the goals of the project?

This project scales a lab green extraction method to pilot (10L) to produce chitosan from black soldier flies for water treatment. Over the span of 8 months, we’ll procure 10kg of certified black soldier fly puparium for multiple batches of chitosan production.

A 10L jacketed reactor with a high shear mixer will perform DES-based deproteinization of the puparium, which is the crucial step in removing proteins to isolate pure chitin. Chitin will be neutralized, filtered, and deacetylated in a second reactor to produce chitosan, systematically optimizing solvent ratios, temperature, and reaction time for yield, deacetylation, and molecular weight.

Energy, waste, and safety metrics (pH, temp) will be tracked. To evaluate chitosan’s water treatment efficacy, we’ll test its ability to remove heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd, Cr, Fe), pathogens (E.coli) and organic pollutants (dyes) from laboratory-prepared contaminated water samples to simulate various pollution scenarios.