Chitin as an organic substance

Chitin as an organic substance.

 

 

Chitin is a natural compound from the group of nitrogen-containing polysaccharides. It is part of the supporting tissue and the external skeleton of arthropods, insects, cell walls of microorganisms, fungi and some algae.

 


Chitin as an organic substance. Chitin in nature: in fungi, in arthropods, crustaceans and insects:

Chitin (FR. chitine, from ancient Greek. χιτών: heaton – clothes, skin, shell) is a natural compound from the group of nitrogen-containing polysaccharides.

The chemical name of chitin: poly-N-acetyl-D-glucose-2-amine, a polymer of residues of N-acetylglucosamine linked β-(1→4)-glycoside bonds.

Chemical formula of chitin – (C8H13NO5)n.

Chitin – a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide, related chemically to the cellulose. It is part of the supporting tissue and the external skeleton of arthropods (crustaceans, molluscs, worms and spiders), insects, cell walls of microorganisms, fungi and some algae, where the chitin is in a complex with proteins and mineral salts.

Chitin is the second (after cellulose) on the prevalence of natural biopolymerproduced from a fully renewable natural materials. So, every year on Earth formed about 10 billion tons of chitin.

Chitin forms long fibers similar to the fibers of cellulose. Chitin performs protective and support function to the cells of insects, arthropods and fungi.

Prolonged heating chitin with concentrated alkali solutions formed derived substance – chitosan, which is a valuable product with 70 areas of practical application.

 

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