Roman snail (Helix pomatia) chitin extraction, physical and chemical characteristics

Abstract

It is long known that mollusks body parts contain chitin, but there were no profound research about it, this is partly because chitin is not the dominant feature of mollusks organisms. The purpose of this research is to investigate one of the dominant mollusk species in Lithuania – Roman snail (Helix pomatia) and to determine the type of chitin. The chitin was extracted from periostracum, uncalcified part of the shell, jaw and radula of gastropod Helix pomatia. Chitin was chemically extracted, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to determine the structure of chitin and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to establish structural patterns. The same principle of chemical chitin extraction was used for all specimen, however certain modifications were introduced due to impurities and differences of chitin mass. Radula, jaw and periostracum was extracted in its original shape, therefore preserving initial structure and appearance. The scientific novelty of this study is that chitin of α form was detected in Helix pomatia specie.