Chitosan
Synonyms: POLY(BETA-(1,4)-2-AMINO-2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOSE);POLY(BETA-(1,4)-D-GLUCOSAMINE);POLY(D-GLUCOSAMINE);POLY-(1,4-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSAMINE);POLY-[1->4]-BETA-D-GLUCOSAMINE;BETA-(1,4)-2-AMINO-2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOSE;DEACETYLATED CHITIN;CHITOSAN
CAS: 9012-76-4
MF: C6H11NO4X2
MW: 161.16
EINECS: 222-311-2
storage temp. room temp
solubility dilute aqueous acid (pH <6.5).: soluble
form (Coarse ground flakes and powder)
Stability: Stable. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.
The commonly referred chitin mainly means chitosan. It appears as amorphous solid with the specific rotation [α] D11 being 3 °~+ 10 °. It is almost insoluble in water but is soluble in organic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, benzoic acid and naphthenic acid as well as some dilute inorganic acids. The industrial product appears as white or off-white translucent flake solid with slightly pearlescent. It is tasteless, non-toxic and readily biodegradable. It is a rare natural cationic polyelectrolyte. The polysaccharide obtained by removing the acetyl group in the chitin glycosyl through strong base hydrolysis or enzymatic reaction can be dissolved in an aqueous solution of low acidity with excellent biocompatibility, non-antigenicity and is insoluble in body fluids. It can be obtained through using the raw material of chitin that is widely existed in the lower animals and plants, such as the shell of arthropods (shrimp, crab) for deacetylation reaction via alkali and heating treatment.
Chitosan is widely applied in medicine, mainly includes: 1. kill parasites and inhibit bacterial activity; 2. produce medical fibers and films, such as surgical sutures, medical paper and fiber membrane, the membrane artificial kidney, artificial skin, etc.; 3. used as drug carriers, sustained-release membrane, sustained release gel; 4. anti-tumor; 5. used as a coagulant and anti-coagulant; 6. used as ophthalmic materials such as contact lenses; 7. lower the lipid and cholesterol; 8. anti-acid and anti-ulcer.
This product is non-toxic to humans and will not produce secondary pollution to the environment as well. Therefore, it has wide application in the field of water treatment, food, medicine and agriculture. In water treatment, it is mainly used as polyelectrolyte coagulant, sludge dewatering aids and purifying agent. In food processing, when being used as a flocculant in clarifying juice products, it can promote solid-liquid separation to remove tartaric acid and suspended solids particle fro the turbid fruit juice, increase transparency, improve product quality and taste. In the pharmaceutical industry, chitosan is used as an antibacterial agent, anti-clotting agents, antiviral agents, anticancer agents, hemostatic agents and dialysis film. In agriculture, it can be used as a feed additive, anti-bacterial agent for plant pathogens and surface covering agent for plant seeds.