Global Chitosan Market to Exhibit 17.7% CAGR During 2014-2020 Driven by Innovative Applications of Chitosan

Chitosan refers to a biodegradable and natural polymer derived from the shells of shrimp and other crustaceans such as lobsters, squids, and crabs. Chemically, it is an organic carbohydrate polymer containing chitin. Chitosan is also derived from fungal source through substrate fermentation. The global chitosan market is growing rapidly due to the wide applications of the polymer across various industries. The global market for chitosan was worth US$1.35 bn in 2013. Expanding robustly at a CAGR of 17.7% during the period between 2014 and 2020, the market is estimated to reach a valuation of US$4.22 bn by 2020.

Waste Water Management Emerges as Key Application Segment in Global Chitosan Market

In terms of applications, the global chitosan market has been segmented into food and beverages, industrial, water treatment, biomedicines and pharmaceuticals, agrochemical, cosmetics, and others including photographic products and fuel cells. The market is driven by the demand from the water treatment application segment, especially across the regions such as North America, Japan, and Europe.

Chitosan is used as a flocculent to treat wastewater. It is an effective coagulant for both organic and inorganic compounds present in water. It is also used as a chelating agent to bind with the highly toxic heavy metals such as lead present in industrial wastewater. Owing to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxic nature, the demand for chitosan in wastewater treatment will surge in the coming years, particularly across Asia Pacific where China and Japan are the key markets.

Chitosan is also used in agrochemicals and in the near future, the demand for chitosan for application in agrochemicals is expected to be the highest. The growing demand for organic constituents in cosmetics and wide applications of chitosan in hair care, skin care, and oral care cosmetic formulations are anticipated to define the future outlook of the market. Lately, researchers have found out innovative applications of chitosan. Chitosan-based dietary supplements are being increasingly used due to its weight reduction and fat binding properties. Chitosan nanoparticles are widely used across the pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors owing to their higher reactivity. 

Research Press Release: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/global-chitosan-market.htm

Chitosan-based Eco-Friendly Food Packaging Material Developed at National University of Singapore

Researchers from the National University of Singapore have developed an environment-friendly food packaging material derived from chitosan. Free from chemical additives, the natural chitosan-based composite film with grapefruit seed extract can slow down fungal growth, thereby increasing the shelf life of perishable food products such as bread. While chitosan has inherent antifungal and antimicrobial properties, grapefruit seed extract is antioxidant and has anti-viral properties. The novel composite film has flexibility and mechanical strength that are comparable to synthetic polythene film commonly used for food packaging.  The film blocks UV light, thereby slowing down oxidation and photochemical reactions that increases the shelf life of food products.

Research Reveals Pervasive Application of Chitosan in Wastewater Treatment

While applications of chitosan are myriad, recently the organic carbohydrate polymer has been in high demand in wastewater treatment. Natural polyelectrols such as chitosan are being widely examined for their effectiveness as coagulates for water treatment across several African countries that do not have access to safe and clean drinking water. Chitosan is a nontoxic and biodegradable poly N-acetyl-glucosamine that is a natural polyelectrolyte. It is derived from chitin, a structural element present in the exoskeleton of crustaceans, and is known to be produced annually as much as cellulose. Rising application of chitosan for wastewater treatment, apart from its uses in the organic cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, is the primary factor bolstering the global chitosan market. 

Recently, analysts from Transparency Market Research conducted a research study, according to which the chitosan industry will rise at an impressive 17.7% CAGR between 2014 and 2020. TMR reports the global market value of chitosan at US$1.35 billion in 2013. The market is expected to reach US$4.22 billion by the end of 2020.

Browse Chitosan Market Report with Full TOC at http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/chitosan-market.html

Effectiveness of Chitosan as a Coagulating Agent in Wastewater Treatment

Obtaining potable water from most raw water resources entails administering coagulation or flocculation agents to remove turbidity, which is present in the form of colloidal or suspended materials. This is one of the most effective processes of treating surface water by reducing turbidity, algae, bacteria, clay particles, and organic compounds. Using aluminum salts may appear as a viable option, but it leaves behind residuals in treated water.

Whilst iron salts are a cheaper option, importing chemicals from foreign lands can prove to be a costly affair for developing countries. Hence, in recent years, there has been a significant interest in developing natural coagulants such as chitosan. Using natural coagulants helps achieve considerable savings in sludge and chemical handling costs. 

Research conducted to examine the market viability of chitosan clearly demonstrates its effectiveness as a coagulating agent for organic compounds. Hence, chitosan is increasingly used as an absorption medium for PCBs, dyes, and small concentrations of phenols present in industrial wastewater. It is also used as a chelating polymer for binding toxic heavy metals. Chitosan has proven to be more effective than alternative polymers such as activated charcoals, synthetic resins, and even chitin in the aforementioned applications. 

Research Reveals Ubiquitous Uses of Chitosan

For years, scientists have been using natural sunscreen made from algae to develop a novel shield against sunrays to protect not only people, but also outdoor materials and textiles. Existing sunblock materials perform either by physically blocking ultraviolet rays or by absorbing them. Several synthetic and natural compounds are used to achieve this. However, most of these have only a limited efficiency, and pose risks to human and environment health. To address such issues, Susana Fernandes and Vincent Bulone from the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden explored natural alternatives. The researchers combined algae’s natural sunscreen molecules with chitosan. The experiment showed that the material thus formed was biocompatible and absorbed ultraviolet A and B radiations better than pure algae. 

Browse Press Release   

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/chitosan-market.htm

Furthermore, a recently conducted laboratory and animal study revealed that nanoparticles coated with chitosan and encapsulating a chemotherapy drug called doxorubicin can target and effectively exterminate cancer cells six times more effectively than doxorubicin uncoated with the oligosaccharides. 

Such studies only reveal the multi-disciplinary attribute of chitosan, which is anticipated to positively impact its market expansion across the globe