Sustainable Chitin: A Bio-Based Building Block for the Future

Chitin is one of the most abundant natural polymers on Earth and yet the majority of chitin on the market today is extracted in small batches, using harsh chemicals, including hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, in processes that generate toxic waste and degrade product quality. At the same time, global demand for chitin and its derivatives is growing rapidly across sectors like bioplastics, cosmetics, pharma, and agriculture.

The chitin market lacks scalable, environmentally friendly sourcing, and continues to rely heavily on industrial shell waste from shrimp and crab,which is often shipped over long distances and processed in poorly regulated facilities.

Solvent-Free Extraction, High Purity

At Merall, we extract high-purity chitin from marbled crayfish shells using a solvent-free, water-conserving process based on citric acid and potassium hydroxide, completely avoiding mineral acids and toxic organics.

Our proprietary method:

Uses no hazardous solvents or bleaches
Is scalable and energy-efficient
Delivers consistent, high-quality chitin with excellent functional properties

Unlike conventional methods, our technology preserves polymer integrity while minimizing waste and emissions, making it suitable for packaging, pharmaceutical, and biomaterials applications.

Green Chemistry

The global chitin market is projected to reach USD 10+ billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers (VMR, 2024). Regulatory pressure on microplastics, synthetic additives, and fossil-derived ingredients is accelerating the shift toward natural, circular materials, especially in the EU and Asia-Pacific.

Merall’s clean chitin meets the growing demand for:

Safe, traceable biomaterials
Pharma-grade purity without aggressive chemicals
European-sourced ingredients for food, med-tech, and packaging innovation

Our extraction platform is patent-protected and designed for integration into local seafood and aquaculture waste streams worldwide.

Closing the Loop on Shell Waste

Chitin is often seen as industrial residue, but Merall proves it can be the starting point for value creation. By upcycling crustacean shells from essentially ANY aquaculture system, we turn organic waste into clean, renewable material, while keeping supply chains short and transparent.

This is circular bioeconomy in practice: smart, scalable, and grounded in green chemistry.