Investigation of different natural sources of chitin: influence of the source and deacetylation process on the physicochemical characteristics of chitosan

Several sea sources for chitin have been investigated, and the chitin content and crystallographic polymorph of the extracted chitin determined. Deacetylation of the chitin was carried out and the physicochemical characteristics of the resulting chitosan studied. The influence of the reaction parameters (reaction duration, temperature, nature of alkaline reagent, etc) was followed. Thus it became possible to determine adequate reaction conditions for obtaining chitosans with the required properties. The physicochemical characteristics of the obtained chitosan are closely related to the taxonomy of the source. New sea sources for chitin have been investigated and considered for industrial purposes. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry