ABSTRACT
Chitin and chitosan are natural aminopolysaccharides which consist of linear chains containing
-acetyl-
-glucosamine and
-glucosamine units which are linked together by (1-4)-
β
glycosidic linkages. While the chitin contains predominantly
-acetyl-
-glucosamine units, chitosan is based primarily on
-glucosamine units. In chitin, the typical content of
-acetyl-
-glucosamine is 70-95%, and the reverse is true with chitosan, which usually contains 70-95% of
-glucosamine. Although there is no sharp distinction between these two biopolymers, it is generally accepted that chitin is highly acetylated, while chitosan is extensively deacetylated.