A Simple and Effective Method for Preparation of Chitosan from Chitin

BackgroundChitosan is the most abundant natural amino polysaccharide. Researchers have found, chitosan is biocompatible, biodegradable and nontoxic, which have made wide applicability in the pharmaceutical field. MethodsChitosan was prepared by deacetylation of chitin and characterized by U.V Spectrophotometry, FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering), & Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). ResultsThe present study showed that by SEM shown a long thin crystal structure on a smooth surface and prepared chitosan was soluble in 1% acetic acid solution. ConclusionChitosan was prepared from deacetylation of crustacean chitin and the morphology studied by SEM that showed that chitosan had a long thin crystal structure on a smooth surface. We were observed the prepared chitosan was soluble in 1% acetic acid solution. Key-wordsChitin, Chitosan, Deacetylation, DLS, FTIR, SEM INTRODUCTION Chitosan (CS) has emerged as alternative synthetic polymer due to its abundance, low production cost, biodegradable, biocompatible, renewable and non toxic nature. It is the second most abundant natural polymer next to cellulose, but most abundant natural amino polysaccharide and the estimation of its annual production is almost same as cellulose . The elemental composition of the chitosan polymer is carbon (44.11%), hydrogen (6.84%) and nitrogen (7.97%). Due to their high percentage of nitrogen compared to synthetically substituted cellulose (1.25%), they are of commercial interest. Over the last several years CS has received increased attention as one of the promising renewable polymeric materials having a wide scope of applications that are both fascinating and as yet uncharted. Possible and usual applications of chitin, chitosan, and their derivatives are estimated to be more than 200 . Chitosan contains an amino group having pKa value ~6. Thus it is positively charged and is readily soluble in aqueous acidic solution. It is a unique linear polycation with a high charge density, reactive hydroxyl and amino groups as well as excessive hydrogen bonding. Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: