Basic Info.

Chitosan
EINECS: 222-311-2
CAS : 9012-76-4
Molecular Formula: (C6H11O4N) n
Molecular Weight: 161.158 .n
Chemical Properties
Appearance: white powder.
Molecular Weight: 179.17112
Density: 1.75g/cm3
Melting Point: 88 deg C
Storage Temperature: Store in a tightly closed container. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from incompatible substances.
Refractive index: 1.7
Solubility: insoluble in water
Stability: Stable. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.
Usage: Claimed to have the ability to retain fats and cholesterol in the stomach.
Properties: This product is non-toxic, odorless, off-white or slight yellow powder, and soluble in acid, insoluble in water and base or normal organic solutions.

Description:

Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed β-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (acetylated unit). It is made by treating shrimp and other crustacean shells with the alkali sodium hydroxide.

Chitosan has a number of commercial and possible biomedical uses. It can be used in agriculture as a seed treatment and biopesticide, helping plants to fight off fungal infections. In winemaking it can be used as a fining agent, also helping to prevent spoilage. In industry, it can be used in a self-healing polyurethane paint coating. In medicine, it may be useful in bandages to reduce bleeding and as an antibacterial agent; it can also be used to help deliver drugs through the skin.

More controversially, chitosan has been asserted to have use in limiting fat absorption, which would make it useful for dieting, but there is evidence against this.

Other uses of chitosan that have been researched include use as a soluble dietary fiber.

Chitosan is extracted from chitin, insoluble in water but soluble in dilute acid and absorbed by human body. As the firdt derivate, it's chemical constitution is macromolecule alkalescent polysaccharide polymer with cation. It has peculiar physical, chemical properties and bioactive function.

Chitosan is listed as follows:

A. High Density Chitosan
B. High Viscosity Chitosan
C. Industrial Grade Chitosan
D. Food Grade Chitosan
E. Medical Grade Chitosan
F. Low Molecular Weight Chitosan
G. Aroxymethyl Chitosan
H. Chitosan Oligosaccharide

Applications:

1)Food Field
Used as food additives, thickeners, preservatives fruits and vegetables, fruit juice clarifying agent, forming
agent, adsorbent, and health food.

2)Medicine, health care products field
As the chitosan non-toxic,has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, and immune function, can be used
as artificial skin, self-absorption of surgical sutures, medical dressing Branch, bone, tissue engineering
scaffolds, enhance liver function, improve digestive function, blood fat, lowering blood sugar, inhibiting tumor
metastasis, and adsorption and complexation of heavy metals and can be excreted, and so on, was vigorously

applied to health food and drug additives.

3)Environmental protection field
Chitosan and its derivatives is a good flocculant for wastewater treatment and metal recovery from metal-containing waste water; in textile field: as a mordant, health care fabric, sizing agents, printing and dyeing

4).Agricultural field
As growth promoters, bio-pesticides, feed additives, seeds, etc.

5)Field of tobacco
Tobacco sheet used as adhesives, low-tar filter and so on.