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Structure of Chitin and Chitosan

  • Chapter
Chitin Chemistry

Abstract

Chitin is one of the most abundant organic materials, being second only to cellulose in the amount produced annually by biosynthesis.1 It occurs in animals, particularly in crustacea, molluscs and insects where it is an important constituent of the exoskeleton, and in certain fungi where it is the principal fibrillar polymer in the cell wall. Its occurrence has been reviewed by Jeuniaux2 and by Richards3 and a table of the distribution of chitin in living organisms, adapted from that given by Jeuniaux,4 is given in Table 1.1.

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  1. Nottingham Polytechnic, UK

    George A. F. Roberts (Senior Lecturer in Dyeing)

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Roberts, G.A.F. (1992). Structure of Chitin and Chitosan. In: Chitin Chemistry. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11545-7_1

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