Chitin and Chitosan are major components of shell of insects, shrimps, crabs and some kinds of fungi.

Chitin and Chitosan are classified in polysaccharide group which also composed of nitrogen. Their chemical formulas are rather the same as cellulose. Chitin and Chitosan are look alike and semi-transparent, but it can be distinguished as follows :

CHITIN is composed of molecular chains of amino sugar (2-ACETYLAMINO-2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOPYRANOSE) linked with GLYCOSIDIC BOND (β-1,4) which is very stable itself so it is difficult to use Chitin in term of solution.

CHITOSAN is composed of molecular chains of amino sugar , same as Chitin. However, it can be distinguished from Chitin at the second position of carbon in amino sugar structure which is AMINE GROUP ( -NH2). Chitosan can be exploit by adding proton to carbon molecules at such position and then be dissolved by organic acid.

Both Chitin and Chitosan are classified as Natural Biopolymer, but Chitosan has better characteristic than Chitin in term of the ability to receive proton from acid.   Therefore, Chitosan can be so called   “NATURAL CATIONIC BIOPOLYMER”

 

Forming of Chitin and Chitosan Crystal are 3 types as follows :

  1)  ALPHA FORM – can be found in shrimps and crabs

2)  BETA FORM – can be found in squid pens

3)  GAMMA FORM – can be found in some kinds of fungi

 

History of Chitin and Chitosan

Chitin was originally found in 1811 by French Professor Henri Braconnot. Chitin was found in various kinds of fungi 30 years prior to the discovery of cellulose. Later in 1823, A. Odier did the experiment extracting Chitin from the group of Ladybugs, and named this substance “Chitin” which means “envelope or cover” in Greece.

Chitosan was found in 1859 by French scientist, C. Rouget. During that time, there was no appropriate name for this substance “MODIFIED CHITIN”. Later in 1894, F.Hoppe – Seylor named this substance as “CHITOSAN”.    In the past, Chitin and Chitosan were not of interest by scientists. However, it can be noticed that there have been some researches about Chitin and Chitosan being published increasingly since 1970 until present.

 

How to Use Chitin and Chitosan

Chitin    is basically used in term of solid by being ground into powder or being dissolved to test about chemical and physical qualifications. Chitin can be dissolved in DIMETHYLACETAMIDE (DMAC), N-METHYLPYROLIDONE (NMP), and LithiumChoride ( which is high toxic )

Chitosan   is often used in terms of solid and solutions by dissolving Chitosan with organic acid e.g. Acetic Acid, Lactic Acid, Glutamic Acid, etc. until it is formed to be clear and viscous solution, and then we can use Chitosan for intentive purposes.

 

How can we benefit from Chitin-Chitosan ?

There are a lot of experiments applying by Chitin-Chitosan. Some experiments are successful, but some are not due to the scientists do not have enough knowledge and understanding about applying Chitin-Chitosan. However, in the future, it is expected that there will be more successful experiments about Chitin-Chitosan.

The Application of Chitin and Chitosan

Can be applied to various kinds of industry as follows :

1)  FOOD INDUSTRY

1.1  Enhancing natural fiber in flour product e.g. noodles, macaroni, cookies, instant noodles, bread and snacks.

1.2  Increasing texture to meat product e.g. meatball, sausage, by using in term of solution mixed with meat to form pattern.

1.3  Increasing flavor and odour to meat product by coating as film to prevent meat from oxidation reaction and prevent Heme in meat from oxidation reaction.

1.4  As food preservative to prolong and prevent damages from bacteria and fungi, and can be applied to both fresh and cooked food.

1.5  Stabilizing cream and emulsion by adding into salad dressing.

1.6  Mixing in special food to control fat and cholesterol in human body by mixing in daily food, food additive and snacks.

1.7  As filter and sedimentation to adsorb particles in beverage and brewery industries.

2)  Medicine and Medical Equipments Industries

2.1  Producing artificial skin which can be naturally biodegraded for the patients wounded from fire burning or spilled boiling water which makes less scar.

2.2  Producing medical thread for wound dressing which can be degraded itself and biocompatible without any reaction to human antibody.

2.3  Producing materials to stop and adsorb bleeding and wound plastering which can be biodegraded naturally.

2.4  Producing an intermediate to control and slow release drug.

2.5  Producing hypochlolesterolemic drug and anti-tumor drug.

2.6  Coating medicine pills to be more durable and prevent brittle.

2.7  As an media in Chromatography process.

2.8  As a lubricant in the rubber gloves production process.

3)  Cosmetics Industry

3.1  Hair Care Product e.g. shampoo, hair conditioner, hair coloring, and styling gel.

3.2  Skin Care Product e.g. shower cream, facial gel, lipstick, skin moisturizer.

3.3  Oral Care Product e.g. toothpaste, gargle, anti-plug solution.

3.4  After-shaving Product e.g. aftershave lotion, styling mousse or gel, stop bleeding product.

3.5  Used in Fragrance industry to endure scent of fragrance.

4)  Agriculture

4.1  Improving soil quality by adding more microorganisms in soil.

4.2  Seed coating to enhance growth.

4.3  Stimulating root system to grow effectively.

4.4  Strengthen the ability to prevent disease.

4.5  Prohibiting the enlargement of bacteria, fungi and viruses which causes a lot of plant diseases.

4.6  Stop the expanding of nematodes.

4.7  Using as food additive in animal food e.g. ruminants, pigs, cattles, poultry to enhance quantity of bifidobacteria gastrointestinal tract and decreasing death of young animals from gastrointestinal tract’s infection.

4.8  As food additive mixed in aquaculture feed to enhance tissues and shell of crustacean and to coat shrimp feed to be dissolved slowly.

4.9  Coating to control fruit ripening, reducing any loss from spoiling and reducing the pathogen.

4.10 Enhance plants’ cell wall structure.

4.11 Increasing agricultural productivity.

5)  Waste Water Treatment

5.1  To sediment suspension and heavy metal in water purification.

5.2  Protein sedimentation of wastewater from food and beverages industry.

5.3  Adsorb fat, pigment from textile, paper and dying industries.

5.4  As natural sedimentation media for chemical product.

5.5  Absorb radioactivity from nuclear power plant.

5.6  As a component of filter plate to absorb toxic from waste water.

6)  Packaging Industry

6.1  Making container that can be biodegraded.

6.2  Making edible wrapping film for food preservation.

7)  Textile Industry

7.1  Enduring color from cloth dying, soften but not shrink.

7.2  Weaving fabric that prevent bacteria and fungi e.g. hospital uniform, patient uniform.

7.3  Fiber coating to reduce bad smell in underware, socks, shoes.

8)  Paper Industry

8.1  Strengthen and endure high physical-quality paper.

8.2  High quality paper to adsorb ink for high quality publishing

8.3  Paper laminating to prolong life and endure paper texture e.g. book laminating in library