Issue 21, 2023

Rapid dissolution of chitin and chitosan with degree of deacetylation less than 80% in KOH/urea aqueous solution

Abstract

Chitin and chitosan exhibit immense potential applications as biomaterials, wearable flexible electronic devices, energy conversion and storage materials, and food packaging. However, the development of a universal green aqueous solvent for chitin and chitosan, and a comprehensive understanding of their dissolution mechanism, requires further investigation. Here, the rapid dissolution of chitin and chitosan with degree of deacetylation less than 80% in the universal solvent KOH/urea aqueous solution has been analyzed. The hierarchical structural transitions and interactions of deacetylated α-chitin and chitosan in the KOH/urea aqueous solution were investigated. Subsequently, a desolvation–intercalation dissolution mechanism was proposed. This study could guide future research on chitin and chitosan at the molecular level, facilitating the development of advanced chitin- and chitosan-based materials with applications ranging from bioelectronics to regenerative medicine.

Graphical abstract: Rapid dissolution of chitin and chitosan with degree of deacetylation less than 80% in KOH/urea aqueous solution

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 6 2023
Accepted
15 8 2023
First published
16 8 2023

Green Chem., 2023,25, 8593-8605

Rapid dissolution of chitin and chitosan with degree of deacetylation less than 80% in KOH/urea aqueous solution

Y. Zhong, X. Zhang, Q. Zhang and J. Cai, Green Chem., 2023, 25, 8593 DOI: 10.1039/D3GC02231E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements