Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-7-2
pubmed:abstractText
Chitosan, the deacetylated derivative of chitin, was until recently produced by hydrolysis in 50% (w/v) NaOH. Application of thermo-mechano-chemical technology to chitin deacetylation was evaluated as an alternative method of chitosan production. This process consists of a cascade reactor unit operating under reduced alkaline conditions of 10% (w/v) NaOH. Prior mercerization of chitin at 4 degrees C for 24 h was required for high deacetylation yields. Sudden decompression of the aqueous alkaline suspension of mercerized chitin resulted in near complete deacetylation of chitin. Reactor residence time was 90 s at 230 degrees C prior to decompression. The chitosan produced was characterized by elemental analysis, (13)C-NMR and enzymatic depolymerization. Enzymatic determination of the degree of acetylation of chitin/chitosan mixtures was also investigated. Relative chitinase and/or chitosanase digestibilities were shown to be strongly dependent on chitin deacetylation. Based on enzymatic digestibilities, the alkaline aqueous high shear process does not appear to produce significant secondary products. Correlation of chitosanase digestibility with percentage of deacetylation provides a simple biological assay to study chitosan composition.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:status
PubMed-not-MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0006-3592
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
36
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
310-5
pubmed:year
1990
pubmed:articleTitle
Chitin/chitosan transformation by thermo-mechano-chemical treatment including characterization by enzymatic depolymerization.
pubmed:affiliation
Département de Biochimie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article