Synthesis of high molecular weight chitosan from chitin by mechanochemistry and aging

Chitosan can be obtained from the deacetylation of chitin. This process is however difficult and usually accompanied by depolymerization, affording low molecular weight chitosan. We report a novel path, relying on the combination of mechanochemistry and aging, to yield high molecular weight chitosan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC 2019-06, Vol.21 (12), p.3276-3285
Main Authors: Di Nardo, Thomas, Hadad, Caroline, Nguyen Van Nhien, Albert, Moores, Audrey
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Chemical Sciences
Chemical synthesis
Chitin
Chitosan
Crustaceans
Deacetylation
Depolymerization
Energy consumption
Energy usage
Green chemistry
Insects
Low molecular weights
Molecular weight
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Spinning (materials)
Viscometry
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Summary:Chitosan can be obtained from the deacetylation of chitin. This process is however difficult and usually accompanied by depolymerization, affording low molecular weight chitosan. We report a novel path, relying on the combination of mechanochemistry and aging, to yield high molecular weight chitosan with minimal use of energy and solvent. This method is versatile and applicable to a number of chitin sources, including crude crustacean and insect shells, yielding deacetylation up to 98% and remarkably high molecular weights. Chitin deacetylation was studied by magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular weight was estimated by viscometry. This process affords chitosan in a safer fashion and with less materials and energy usage compared to the classic hydrothermal one. A process based on mechanochemistry and aging under humidity affords high molecular weight chitosan under safe conditions from chitin.
ISSN:1463-9262
1463-9270
DOI:10.1039/c9gc00304e