Chitosan
is one of the few cationic biopolymers, that means it is positively charged and adds unique value to your quality products.
What is chitosan?
Chitin is the structural scaffold polymer of protective shrimp shells. This natural insoluble polysaccharide consists of N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamin monomers. Chitosan is partly de-acetylated chitin. The chitosan polymer consists of N-Actetyl-D-Glucosamin and D-Glucosamin monomers that are organized in a long chain with random sequence. The percentage of de-acetylated D-Glucosamin groups and the chain length influence the chitosan’s specific characteristics such as solubility, viscosity, film-forming and antimicrobial properties.
How is Chitosan produced?
Chitin, the structural scaffold polymer of protective shrimp shells can be extracted and converted into the high-performing biopolymer chitosan. The extraction and conversion process includes de-mineralization, de-proteinization and de-acetylation of the shells. Minerals and proteins are removed from the shrimp shells during the extraction step. By treatment with a balanced concentration of inorganic solvents and controlled temperature, the conversion from chitin into chitosan takes place. The so-called deacetylation step results in chitosan that subsequently gets washed with pure fresh water.
This is why our chitosan is so pure and stable in quality.
All raw materials and components utilized in Chitinor’s production plant in the very North of Norway are of the highest quality and purity. Chitinor’s advanced process yields premium-quality, low heavy-metal, low endotoxin containing chitosans with defined specifications that matches our global customers’ requirements. All batches are 100% traceable and full documentation will be provided.
Technical informations
Frequently Asked Questions
Chitosan is highly compatible with other ingredients. In various types of formulations it has compatibility with alcohol (<60%), other polymers, propellants, salts, amphoteric, non-ionic and cationic surfactants.
It can be combined in gels, sprays, creams, waxes, patches, fibres and other products. Its film-forming abilities allows its application as matrix in topical drug delivery formulations. The anti-microbial activity and outstanding purity makes it suitable for innovative applications.
Chitosan is a naturally occurring derivate of chitin. There is a broad range of natural sources of chitin. In order to guarantee a defined and reproducible chemical grade of the finished products, only one species should be processed for the extraction of high quality chitosan. Our chitosans are extracted from a sustainable and exclusive source, the shell of the cold-water shrimp Pandalus borealis.
Chitosan is a high molecular weight polymer derived from the natural product chitin which is found in the shells of shrimp, crabs and other animals. It is a linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed ß-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (acetylated unit). Chitin is a biodegradable polysaccharide that is similar to cellulose. Like cellulose, chitin and its derivative chitosan are fibrous materials. Chitosan is made from chitin by removing acetyl groups (CH3-CO) with diluted acids or strong bases. By controlling the number of acetyl groups removed along the polymer chain (or by adding new groups to sites that once had an acetyl group), chemists can tune the properties of chitosan to make it more versatile. The amount of free amino groups is measured as the degree of deacetylation.
Chitosan is antimicrobial but non-toxic; it has GRAS status and is traditionally used in wine production and for wound treatment
The shells of Pandalus borealis which are used for the manufacture of Chitopharm™ and HydamerTM derive from food production. That means our raw material meet food quality requirements and is therefore of the highest standard.
Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide and is biodegradable. Hydamer products showed more than 70 % biodegradability in the BODIS-Test (ISO 10634) (1% solution).
The amino group in chitosan has a pKa value of ~5.5-6.5, thus, chitosan is positively charged and soluble in acidic to neutral solutions with a charge density dependent on pH and the %DA-value. We can offer you technical support on specific questions regarding chitosan solubility.