Chitin degradation process

Glycoside hydrolases (glycosidases) are essential and consequently widely abundant enzymes in all living systems that rely on the processing of carbohydrates. From the degradation of such polysaccharides as starch, cellulose, or chitin to the highly... 

IR and NMR spectroscopy are relatively easy-to-apply for a qnaUtative and comparative evaln-ation of the chemical structure and the DA determination. These techniques are nondestructive methods and do not need initial treatment such as hydrolysis, pyrolysis, and derivatization. This chapter describes the structural characterization of chitin and chitosan (as oligomers and polymers) by IR, near-IR, and various types of NMR spectroscopy techniques. This study provides information on (1) composition, sequence, and type of residues and (2) any structural changes occurring in the molecules as a result of different processes (degradation, deacetylation, and acetylation). The influences of acids, alkali, moisture, and impurities on the NMR and IR spectra of the original molecules will be also discussed. 

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