Decomposition of myceliar matrix and extraction of chitosan from Gongronella butleri USDB 0201 and Absidia coerulea ATCC 14076

Free chitosan, 2 g/100 g mycelia from Gongronella butleri and 6.5 g/100g mycelia from Absidia coerulea were isolated by 1 M NaOH at 45 °C for 13 h and 0.35 M acetic acid at 95 °C for 5 h. Both myceliar matrixes did not break down under these conditions. However, myceliar matrix could be decomposed by treatment with 11 M NaOH at 45 °C for 13 h and 0.35 M acetic acid at 95 °C for 5 h and then extracted the total chitosan, 8–9 g/100 g mycelia from both fungi. According to these results, G. butleri has higher amount of complexed chitosan and A. coerulea has higher amount in free chitosan.