|
|
 |
 |
 |
| |
 |
 |
|
| Chitin
is a polysaccharide found in the outer skeleton of insects, crabs,
shrimps, and lobsters and in the internal structures of other
invertebrates. Chitin is composed of ß(1-4) linked units of the
amino sugar N-acetyl-glucosamine, and is the main source of
production of chitosan, which is used in a number of applications,
such as a flocculating agent, a wound healing agent, a sizing and
strengthening agent for paper, and a delivery vehicle for
pharmaceuticals and genes.
Chitin
is the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature (after
cellulose). Chitin mainly consists of the amino sugar
N-acetylglucosamine,
which is partially deacetylated. Chitin is a renewable resource and
is
isolated from crain nab and shrimp waste. It is used for waste water
clearing, for cosmetics and for medical and veterinary applications.
Features:
1) Moisture <10%
2) Ash <1%
3) Arsenic (As) < 0.5mg/kg
4) Lead (Pb) < 0.5mg/kg
5) Hydrargyrum (Hg) <0.2mg/kg
|
|
 |
|
| Chitin
is natural, non-toxic, non-allergenic, anti-microbial, and
biodegradable. It has a strong positive charge, which allows it to
bind with negatively charged surfaces or materials, including
metals, skin, and macromolecules such as proteins.
Medical
Application: Early on it was found
that chitin had wound-healing properties. By the mid-1950s,
chitin-coated sutures were being used, which enhanced healing time
by 35 to 50%. In the 1970s, researchers with the University
of Delaware Sea Grant College Program developed a method to spin
pure chitin filaments. These new chitin sutures could be absorbed by
the body, eliminating the need for surgical removal. A Japanese firm
bought the patent rights, and suture materials are now manufactured
in Japan. In addition, this firm uses chitin to make dressings for
burns, surface wounds, and skin-graft donor sites, which
dramatically accelerate healing and reduce pain compared to standard
treatments where the dressings must be removed.
 Other
medical uses for chitin include anti-bacterial sponges and hospital
dressings, artificial blood vessels, contact lenses, tumor
inhibition, dental plaque inhibition, and blood cholesterol control.
Household products include sponges, diapers, feminine napkins, and
tampons.
Water
Treatment: Water Purification
— As a polymer, chitosan's natural tendency is to form long
chains of molecules with positive charges, which act like hooks.
These natural hooks catch organic materials, such as oils,
detergents, and other contaminants suspended in water. The material
then coagulates to form flakes that are easily filtered out.
Filtration companies are using chitin in clarifiers to help filter
particulates and chemicals from water.
Wastewater Treatment — In Japan,
chitosan was first used for wastewater treatment because of its
metal-binding properties. It is also good for cleaning up toxic
organic compounds, such as PCBs.
Dietary Supplements: Chitosan
has properties similar to plant fiber and can significantly bind
fat, acting like a sponge in the digestive tract. It is not
digestible itself and the bound fat leaves via the body without ever
entering the bloodstream.
Cosmetics: Make-up
powder; nail polish; moisturizers; face, hand, and body creams; and
toothpaste are just a few consumer products that might contain
chitin.
Agriculture: Seeds
treated with chitosan are larger and stronger and more resistant to
fungal diseases. Treating seeds with chitin can increase crop yields
by up to 50%.
Chitin is added to commercial feed mixtures
containing whey, a by-product of the cheese industry. Many animals
find it hard to digest the high-lactose whey. But chitin supports
the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the animals' digestive
tract — these bacteria produce enzymes that help the animals
digest whey. |
|
 |
|
| |
|
| Physico-chemical
analysis |
| CAS
Number |
1398-61-4 |
| Color |
White |
| Loss
on drying |
<
10 % |
| Ash |
<
2 % |
| Caustic
solubles |
<
3 % |
| Total
chitin content |
Minimum
85 % |
| Odour |
Nil |
| Heavy
metal analysis |
| Lead |
<
0.05 ppm |
| Mercury |
<
0.05 ppm |
| Arsenic |
<
0.05 ppm |
| Cadmium |
<
0.05 ppm |
| Microbiological
analysis |
| Total
plate count |
<
100 cfu/gm |
| Bacteria
of coli group |
<
10/g |
| Mould
& Yeast |
<
10 cfu/gm |
| Harzadous
Identification |
| Inhalation |
The
Chitin itself is not harmful, but the physical form as powder
can obstuct respiratory ways in case of large inhalation |
| Absorption |
Nil |
| Eyes
Contact |
Nil |
| |
| Particle
Size |
Flakes |
| Packing |
Paper
Barrels 30/50 kgs |
| Shelf
life |
Two
years from date of Mfg |
|
|
|
