USU PR - So far, shrimp shells are often considered as waste, but in the hands of Professor of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) Prof. Dr. Harry Agusna, MSc, M.Phill shrimp shells are not just waste but something that can be processed into Chitosan compounds.

Prof. Dr. Harry Agusnar, MSc, M.Phil, a Professor from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, managed to make shrimp shell chitosan into several useful products that are closely used in daily activities.

Prof. Harry Agusnar utilizes shrimp shell chitosan as the main ingredient to make handboy lotion, hand sanitizer, chitosan paper soap, and recently face serum from chitosan with anti-aging claims.

His interest in researching and processing chitosan waste began in 1987 while continuing his master's degree at the Universiti of Kebangsaan Malaysia. At that time, this Professor of FMIPA USU conducted research using aromatic chemicals. According to him, Chitosan has a lot of potential.

"So I tried aromatic chemicals so that compounds from c6 - c10 could be separated. This is what makes us interested in doing research," he said when met at his house on Wednesday (07/06).

Initially, Prof. Harry's family was skeptical about the potential of shrimp shells, but after being applied, the research product caught their attention.

The process of producing chitosan is fairly simple. Prof. Harry explained that first the shrimp has been separated from the skin, then the skin is stored for drying or directly soaked in alkaline water to remove odor.

"Do not cook (shrimp shells) because it can damage (eliminate compounds). I just soak it and it becomes the ingredient," he explains.

Furthermore, to neutralize the odor, the protein and minerals contained in the shrimp shell are removed first.

So far, the products that have been produced by Prof. Harry have received a good response from many parties. One of them is the Chitosan Hand Sanitizer and Chitosan Paper Soap products that were given and used by the community during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. He made a breakthrough in alcohol-free hand sanitizer from the chitosan.

Unfortunately, these products have not been circulated to the public because they still meet several requirements to be disseminated, one of which must have a company. Therefore, Prof. Harry hopes that the university can enthusiastically help the product distribution process so that it can be used by the wider community.

Reportedly, Prof. Harry will still have 4 products to be introduced, namely, hair tonic from chitosan, shampoo, conditioner, and yarn from chitosan.

"I made the product that I produced and there will be 4 more products coming hair tonic from chitosan and shampoo, conditioner, and one more collaboration, we make yarn. We hope that the university can be enthusiastic, and help how the existing products can be circulated and used by the public," he concluded.