Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Marine Chitin and Collagen Biopolymers

This professional diploma prepares you to obtain and apply two of the marine biopolymers with the greatest industrial track record. You will study the structure and properties of chitin and chitosan, obtained from crustacean shells, and of marine collagen and gelatin, sourced from fish skins and scales. You will learn the extraction processes, characterization and quality control, and their applications in food, cosmetics, health, agriculture and water treatment, from a circular economy perspective.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
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About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Marine Chitin and Collagen Biopolymers?

This professional diploma prepares you to obtain and apply two of the marine biopolymers with the greatest industrial track record. You will start from fishing and shellfish by-products as a raw material and study the chemistry of chitin and chitosan, from deacetylation to molecular weight and derivatives, and of marine collagen, gelatin and bioactive peptides. You will learn chemical, enzymatic and emerging extraction processes, characterize products by degree of deacetylation, molecular weight and purity, and match each quality grade to its uses and regulatory requirements in food, cosmetics, health, agriculture and water treatment.

What sets this diploma apart: two key biopolymers, with chitin, chitosan, collagen and gelatin in a single program; a circular economy approach to adding value to fishing and shellfish by-products; a process focus, from raw material to a product with specifications; a wide range of applications across food, cosmetics, health, agriculture and water treatment; and a practical case in which you design a by-product valorisation line.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Two key biopolymers: chitin, chitosan, collagen and gelatin in a single program.
  • Circular economy: adding value to fishing and shellfish by-products.
  • Process focus: from raw material to a product with specifications.
  • Quality control: characterization, allergens and commercial specifications.
  • Diverse applications: food, cosmetics, health, agriculture and water treatment.
  • Practical case: design of a by-product valorisation line.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Marine Chitin and Collagen Biopolymers

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Marine by-products as a raw material

  • 1.1. Volume and types of by-products
  • 1.2. Crustacean shells
  • 1.3. Squid pens
  • 1.4. Skins, scales and bones
  • 1.5. Preserving the raw material
  • 1.6. Collection logistics
  • 1.7. Regulatory framework for by-products
  • 1.8. Valorisation opportunities
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Chemistry of chitin and chitosan

  • 2.1. Structure of chitin
  • 2.2. Alpha, beta and gamma forms
  • 2.3. Deacetylation and chitosan
  • 2.4. Degree of deacetylation
  • 2.5. Molecular weight and viscosity
  • 2.6. Solubility and charge
  • 2.7. Chemical derivatives
  • 2.8. Chitosan oligosaccharides
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Production of chitin and chitosan

  • 3.1. Demineralisation
  • 3.2. Deproteinisation
  • 3.3. Decolourisation
  • 3.4. Chemical deacetylation
  • 3.5. Enzymatic and fermentation methods
  • 3.6. Emerging technologies
  • 3.7. Effluent treatment
  • 3.8. Yields and costs
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Chemistry of marine collagen

  • 4.1. Structure of collagen
  • 4.2. Types of collagen in marine species
  • 4.3. Thermal stability
  • 4.4. Marine gelatin
  • 4.5. Hydrolysates and peptides
  • 4.6. Bioactivity of peptides
  • 4.7. Differences from land-animal collagen
  • 4.8. Advantages and limitations
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Production of collagen and gelatin

  • 5.1. Pretreatment of skins and scales
  • 5.2. Acid extraction
  • 5.3. Pepsin extraction
  • 5.4. Gelatin production
  • 5.5. Enzymatic hydrolysis
  • 5.6. Purification and filtration
  • 5.7. Drying and stabilization
  • 5.8. Yields and costs
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Characterization and quality control

  • 6.1. Infrared spectroscopy
  • 6.2. Determining the degree of deacetylation
  • 6.3. Viscometry and molecular weight
  • 6.4. Protein electrophoresis
  • 6.5. Ash and moisture content
  • 6.6. Contaminants and allergens
  • 6.7. Commercial specifications
  • 6.8. Quality systems
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Industrial applications

  • 7.1. Food ingredients
  • 7.2. Edible packaging and coatings
  • 7.3. Cosmetics and skin care
  • 7.4. Wound dressings and biomaterials
  • 7.5. Nutraceuticals
  • 7.6. Agriculture and biostimulants
  • 7.7. Water treatment
  • 7.8. Regulatory requirements by sector
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Practical case: by-product valorisation line

  • 8.1. Analyzing by-product availability
  • 8.2. Selecting the target product
  • 8.3. Process design
  • 8.4. Mass balance
  • 8.5. Quality control plan
  • 8.6. Market study
  • 8.7. Preliminary economic analysis
  • 8.8. Presentation of the proposal
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Marine Chitin and Collagen Biopolymers

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Marine Chitin and Collagen Biopolymers

01Understand the chemistry of chitin.
02Understand marine collagen.
03Master extraction.
04Characterize products.
05Identify applications.
06Plan valorisation.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Marine Chitin and Collagen Biopolymers

01Valorisation technicianmaking use of by-products in the fishing industry.
02Production technicianchitosan, collagen and gelatin plants.
03Quality techniciancontrol of ingredients and biomaterials.
04R&D techniciandevelopment of ingredients and materials.
05Technical sales representativesale of marine ingredients.
06Entrepreneurblue bioeconomy projects.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Marine Chitin and Collagen Biopolymers

Chitosan is obtained by deacetylating chitin; it is more soluble and has more applications.

No. Its composition and thermal stability are different, which determines its uses.

Yes. Because the raw material comes from crustaceans and fish, allergens must be controlled according to the application.

No. You work with data, technical data sheets and industrial cases.

You design a by-product valorisation line, from the raw material to the final product, with a mass balance, quality plan and preliminary economic analysis.

Entirely online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The professional diploma is taught online and comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each, ending with a practical case in which you apply what you have learned to the design of a by-product valorisation line.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at graduates in chemistry, biotechnology or food technology who wish to specialize in biopolymers, technicians in the fishing and canning industry looking to add value to by-products, cosmetics and nutraceutical professionals working with marine ingredients, entrepreneurs interested in the blue bioeconomy, and researchers who want to understand industrial application. A degree in chemistry, biotechnology, biology, food science and technology, marine sciences or a related field, or experience in the fishing or ingredients industry, is recommended.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
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Start my applicationFrom $420 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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