Abstract
Insoluble chitinous materials in highly viscous chitosan solutions can be quantified using the viscosity-lowering action of transglucosidase (EC 2.4.1.24). In chitosan, commonly produced by high temperature deacetylation (90 °C), between 70–90% of insoluble chitinous materials were recovered by this enzymatic method whereas only 25% recovery was obtained by the nitrous acid method. The insoluble material recovered after enzyme treatment had a higher degree of deacetylation and a lower degree of crystallization than that after nitrous acid treatment. The results are explained by difference in penetration by enzyme and nitrous acid into the insoluble particle.
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Hein, S., Ng, CH. & Stevens, W.F. Quantification and characterization of insoluble chitinous materials in viscous chitosan solutions. Biotechnology Letters 25, 863–868 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024088820836
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024088820836