Acta Aquatica Turcica, vol.18, no.4, pp.451-460, 2022 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
In this research, it was aimed to investigate the production of water-soluble chitosan from the enzymatic deacetylation of chitin by Bacillus (B. cereus (BC) and B. thuringiensis (BT)) strains. Characteristic properties involving molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, and antibacterial activity of chitosan samples were identified. The degree of deacetylation of BC and BT chitosan samples obtained at 393 and 213 ppm amounts was reported as 80.54% and 86.07% by the IR spectrum. As well as the degree of deacetylation, the molecular weights of samples showed a significant effect on antibacterial activity were 48.27 and 48.46 Da, respectively. Among the tested bacteria, the highest inhibitory effect was recorded in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermis for both chitosan samples. On the other hand, no antibacterial effect on S. aureus, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, S. epidermidis, Klebsiella sp., and Salmonella spp. were observed. Our results indicated a simple and cost-efficient method for the production of chitosan polymers showing antibacterial activity.