Chitin is light beige to white, soluble in concentrated hydrochloric acid/phosphoric acid/sulfuric acid/acetic acid, insoluble in organic solvents such as alkali and insoluble in water. Chitosan is a deacetylated derivative of chitin, which is insoluble in water and soluble in some dilute acids.
Chitin is widely used, which can be used as cloth, clothing, dye, paper and water treatment in industry. It can be used as pesticide and plant antiviral agent in agriculture. Make fish feed in the fishing ground. Cosmetic beauty agent, hair care agent, moisturizing agent, etc.
Extended data
Soluble in dimethylacetamide or concentrated acid containing 8% lithium chloride; Insoluble in water, dilute acid, alkali, ethanol or other organic solvents.
In nature, chitin widely exists in the shells of crustaceans such as lower plant fungi, shrimps, crabs, insects and the cell walls of fungi.
Chitin is a high molecular weight substance, and its molecular weight can reach more than 654.38+00000. The higher the molecular weight, the stronger the adsorption capacity, which is suitable for industrial and environmental protection applications. Low molecular weight is easily absorbed by human body. Chitosan with a molecular weight of about 7000 contains about 30 glucosamine residues.
Chitosan is deacetylated from chitin. Chitin cannot be used by the body because it is insoluble in acid, alkali and water. Deacetylation can increase its solubility, so it can be absorbed by human body. Removing more than 55% of N- acetyl is called chitosan.
Baidu encyclopedia-chitin