Question 1

What is ChitoCore?

Accepted Answer

ChitoCore is a circular bio-manufacturing platform that converts mushroom waste into high-value biomaterials such as fungal-derived chitosan. These materials have applications across agriculture, winemaking, and advanced materials.

Question 2

What is chitosan and why is it valuable?

Accepted Answer

Chitosan is a naturally derived biopolymer known for its antimicrobial, flocculating, and film-forming properties. It is widely used in agriculture, water treatment, food processing, and pharmaceuticals.

Question 3

How is ChitoCore chitosan different from traditional chitosan?

Accepted Answer

Traditional chitosan is typically derived from crustaceans. ChitoCore produces fungal-derived chitosan, which avoids shellfish allergens, offers more consistent quality, and aligns with sustainable, circular production systems.

Question 4

What feedstock do you use?

Accepted Answer

We use waste mushroom biomass, such as stems from commercial mushroom production, transforming an underutilised by-product into valuable materials.

Question 5

What are some of the applications of chitosan?

Accepted Answer

In winemaking and brewing: clarification, microbial control (e.g. Brettanomyces), wine stability, and as a complement to bentonite. In agriculture: biostimulant, plant defence elicitor, and nutrient coating. As advanced materials: wound healing dressings, microbial control, and nanomaterial formulations.

Question 6

Why is fungal-derived chitosan more sustainable?

Accepted Answer

Fungal-derived chitosan utilises agricultural waste streams, reduces reliance on marine resources, and supports circular economy principles.

Question 7

Where is your material produced?

Accepted Answer

ChitoCore is developing production capability in Australia, working closely with local mushroom producers.

Question 8

Can you process at scale?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the process is designed to scale modularly alongside mushroom production facilities, enabling distributed manufacturing near feedstock sources.

Question 9

Are ChitoCore chitosan products available for purchase?

Accepted Answer

ChitoCore is currently in development and pilot-stage validation. We are engaging with partners for early trials and commercialisation.

Question 10

Are you working with industry partners?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we are actively engaging with partners across agriculture, winemaking, and biomaterials sectors.

Question 11

What is the degree of deacetylation (DDA) of ChitoCore chitosan?

Accepted Answer

We target application-specific ranges of degree of deacetylation to optimise performance across industries such as winemaking, agriculture, water treatment, and pharmaceutical applications.

Question 12

What molecular weight (MW) range does ChitoCore produce?

Accepted Answer

Our process allows tuning of molecular weight distribution depending on the application. Fungal species typically produce chitosan in the range of approximately 20–600 kDa, and we can target specific MW bands through process control.

Question 13

Does fungal chitosan contain allergens?

Accepted Answer

Fungal-derived chitosan avoids shellfish allergens associated with crustacean sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Interested in partnering with ChitoCore?

Frequently Asked Questions

CompanyWhat is ChitoCore?

ProductWhat is chitosan and why is it valuable?

ProductHow is ChitoCore chitosan different from traditional chitosan?

ProcessWhat feedstock do you use?

ApplicationsWhat are some of the applications of chitosan?

SustainabilityWhy is fungal-derived chitosan more sustainable?

ManufacturingWhere is your material produced?

ManufacturingCan you process at scale?

CommercialAre ChitoCore chitosan products available for purchase?

CommercialAre you working with industry partners?

SpecificationsWhat is the degree of deacetylation (DDA) of ChitoCore chitosan?

SpecificationsWhat molecular weight (MW) range does ChitoCore produce?

SpecificationsDoes fungal chitosan contain allergens?

Interested in partnering with ChitoCore?