Chitosan | 9012-76-4

Synonyms: chitosan, poliglusam, deacetylchitin, chicol, flonac c, flonac n, sea cure plus, kytex h, kytex m, kimitsu chitosan f

EINECSNumber : (8)-0579

RTECSNumber: FM6300000

TSCA: Yes

What is Chitosan?

Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin, which is a natural polymer found in the shells of crustaceans, such as shrimp and crab, and in the cell walls of fungi. It is produced by the deacetylation of chitin, which involves removing acetyl groups from the chitin molecule.

Uses of Chitosan

Chitosan is a biodegradable and biocompatible material that has several unique properties such as antimicrobial activity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. These properties make it suitable for various applications including biomedical, agricultural, and environmental.

In the field of biomedical engineering, chitosan is used in wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering and as a coating for medical devices.

Chitosan is also used in agriculture as a biopesticide and soil conditioner, as it has been shown to have antifungal and antibacterial properties that can help protect crops from diseases and pests.

In addition to its biomedical and agricultural applications, chitosan is used in environmental applications, such as water treatment and pollution control.

Types of Chitosan

Chitosan can be classified into different types based on its molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, and chemical modification. Some common types of chitosan are:

• Low molecular weight chitosan: Has a molecular weight of 50,000-190,000 Da and a viscosity of 20-300 cP
• Medium molecular weight chitosan: Has a molecular weight of 190,000-310,000 Da and a viscosity of 200-800 cP
• High molecular weight chitosan: Has a molecular weight of 310,000-375,000 Da and a viscosity of 800-2000 cP
• Oligochitosan: Has a molecular weight of less than 10,000 Da and is more soluble and bioactive than higher molecular weight chitosans.
• Carboxymethyl chitosan: Has carboxyl groups attached to the glucosamine units, increasing its solubility and functionality
• Chitosan hydrochloride: Has chloride ions bound to the amino groups, enhancing its solubility and stability in acidic conditions