Chitosan High Density,Germany price supplier

The basic material for producing chitosan is chitin, the most present natural polysaccharide

after cellulose. Chitin is the structural element in the exoskeleton of crustaceans (crabs, Shrimps, etc. and also some types of mushrooms).

The chitin applied by our manufacturer is a by-product of shrimps processing. The shrimps are cooked and peeled. First the shells of the shrimps are fine shredded and washed in sodium hydroxide solution to remove Protein and fatty components. Afterwards the rest of basic solution

is dewatered.

The exoskeleton of the shrimps consists of calcium compounds which are incorporated in the

chemical structure. To remove the compounds the shells are treated with hydrochloric acid.

After washing, drying and powderizing a clear chitin is obtained.

The chemical difference between chitin and chitosan is the presence of free amino groups.

A conversation into chitosan can be made by cooking in concentrated sodium hydroxide solution.

Also the conversation (deacetylation) can be made by enzymatic catalysed reactions.

This process is repeated as often as the requested degree of deacetylation (%DA) is reached.

The %DA-value is in the range of 30-95 %, depending on the foreseen purpose.

After process ending the chitosan is washed, dried, powderized and packed.