A Review of Various Sources of Chitin and Chitosan in Nature

Chitin was first discovered by its name from the Greek word “chiton”, which means “mail coat”. It is indeed a polysaccharide made up of naturally occurring acetyl-D-glucosamine monomers. Hatchett researcher who extracted chitin shells mollusks (crabs and lobsters), prawns, crayfish in 1799. Later 1811, Henri Braconnot cell walls mushrooms called it “fungine”. chitosan are abundant biosphere as essential components many organisms’ exoskeletons by-products global seafood industry. The biopolymer must be deacetylated before can produced. also using microbes biological extraction procedure. development products that take advantage bioactivities existing primary commercial source (crustacean) has lagged expectations. Also, disadvantages present such seasonality competition for other uses among others been one driving forces towards seeking alternative sources nature. This review highlights some efforts environmental scholars to locate possible nature over time.