CHITIN

Made by : Dushyant kumar

Bsa-08-613

1
 Introduction
Chitin  (C8H13O5N)n is most important natural polysaccharide
that found in the exoskeleton of insects,crustaceans shells or in
cell walls fungi.

The term chitin comes from Greek; it means that “envelope”

2
  Chitin is a polysaccharide; it is synthesized
 from units of N-acetyl-D-glucos-2-amine.

 Chitin may therefore be described as 

cellulose with one hydroxyl group on
each monomer substituted with an 
acetylamine group.

 These units form covalent β-1,4 linkages

(similar to the linkages between glucose units
forming cellulose).
3
  each monomer substituted with an acetyl
amine group. This allows for increased 
hydrogen bonding between adjacent polymers,
giving the chitin-polymer matrix increased
strength

Off-white, innocuous, flavourless

semitransparent and amorphous
solid. Insoluble in water, dilute acid.

4
 In many respects,chitin plays an analogous role to collagen in
the higher animals and cellulose in terrestrial plants.

Collagen

Cellulose

Chitin

5
 In its unmodified form, chitin is
translucent, pliable, resilient and quite
tough.
In arthropods, however, it is often
modified, becoming embedded in a
hardened proteinaceous matrix, which
forms much of the exoskeleton.
In its pure form it is leathery, but when
encrusted in calcium carbonate it
becomes much harder.
6
Depending upon its crystalline structure ,chitin exists in
several forms with each their specific properties.Three of
these forms are α , β and γ-chitin.

7
 α -Chitin is extracted from shrimp or crab shells and has an anti
parallel structure with strong intermolecular hydrogen bridge.

 β-Chitin is extracted from squid or loligo pens and exhibit weaker

intermolecular hydrogen bonding due to parallel arrangement of
the polymer chains.

 γ -Chitin has limited source and intermediate hydrogen bonding.

 Utilazation of the chitin is very difficult , because of its

insolubility in water and many commercial solvents.

8
 Uses
 Industrial :
 water purification,
 acts as a binder in dyes, fabrics, and adhesives
 Processes to size and strengthen paper employ
chitin.

 Medicine:
 flexible and strong material make it favorable
as surgical thread.
 a role in a possible pathway in human allergic
disease.
9
  Chitin have anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties
that have led to them being used as wound
dressings, surgical sutures and in cataract surgery
and Periodontal disease and burns treatment.

Agriculture
 a good inductor for defense mechanisms in plants.
 tested as a fertilizer that can help plants develop.

10
  healthyimmune responses, and have a much
better yield and life expectancy.
      Cosmetics:
 Chitin and chitosan are non-toxic and non-
allergenic which means that the body won't
reject them as foreign invaders; hence they
can be used in the production of emulsifiers,
anti-static agents and emollients to extend the
cosmetic product shelf life.

11
  Food Industry
 Chitin can be used to recover proteins from
food processing wastes to be used in animal
food production. Mycrocrystalline Chitin (MCC)
has been used as a thickening/gelling agent in
the binding, stabilising and texturing of food.  

12
 T HA N K YO U

13