title: Products from microwave and ultrasonic wave assisted acid hydrolysis of chitin.
abstract: Hydrolysis of α-chitin in concentrated hydrochloric acid under elevated temperature is a general preparation of a nutrapharmaceutical glucosamine hydrochloride (GlcN.HCl). In this study, the microwave and ultrasonic wave assisted acid hydrolysis of shrimp shell α-chitin are investigated with an aim to improve the reaction rate and selectivity. Microwave heating shortens the hydrolysis time from 120 min in the conventional heating process to 12 min to afford GlcN.HCl in 57% yield. Sonication can be used to assist chitin dissolution in 38% HCl prior to the hydrolysis at 120 °C for 120 min to produce GlcN.HCl in 62% yield. The selective hydrolysis of glycosidic bond of chitin is achievable at 30 °C for 4 h to give N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) in 37% yield.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
authors.forename: Anawat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ajavakom
authors.affiliation: Program of Petrochemical and Polymer Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sulaleewan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Supsvetson
authors.affiliation: Program of Petrochemical and Polymer Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
authors.forename: Aimjit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Somboot
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
authors.forename: Mongkol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sukwattanasinitt
mesh_terms: D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000737:chemistry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008872:Microwaves; D013010:Sonication / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D002686:Chitin; D005944:Glucosamine; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D000117:Acetylglucosamine