Applications of magnetic resonance spectroscopy to chitin from insect cuticles.
Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature after cellulose. At the present time, the main commercial sources of chitin are the crab and shrimp shells which are major waste products from the seafood industry. However, current chitin resources have some inherent problems including seasonal availability, limited supplies, and environmental pollution. As an alternative, insect cuticle is proposed as an unconventional but viable source of chitin. This review focuses on the recent sources of insect chitin and the application of various magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques to native insect cuticles, particularly cicada sloughs and chitin extracted from insect sloughs. In addition, the physicochemical properties, isolation process, and degree of N-acetylation (DA) is reviewed and discussed.
Nanodelivery System Laboratory-NDS, National Nanotechnology Center-NANOTEC, National Science and Technology Development Agency-NSTDA, Thailand Science Park, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
Pattarapond
P
Gonil
Warayuth
W
Sajomsang
D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007313:Insecta / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*
D002686:Chitin