Volume 2, Issue 3 pp. 204-226
Review

A Review on Chitin and Chitosan Polymers: Structure, Chemistry, Solubility, Derivatives, and Applications

Vida Zargar

Vida Zargar

University of Kashan, Department of Engineering, Energy Research Institute, Separation Processes Research Group (SPRG), Ghotb-e-Ravandi Ave., Kashan 8731751167, Iran.

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Morteza Asghari

Corresponding Author

Morteza Asghari

University of Kashan, Department of Engineering, Energy Research Institute, Separation Processes Research Group (SPRG), Ghotb-e-Ravandi Ave., Kashan 8731751167, Iran.

University of Kashan, Department of Engineering, Energy Research Institute, Separation Processes Research Group (SPRG), Ghotb-e-Ravandi Ave., Kashan 8731751167, Iran.Search for more papers by this author
Amir Dashti

Amir Dashti

University of Kashan, Department of Engineering, Energy Research Institute, Separation Processes Research Group (SPRG), Ghotb-e-Ravandi Ave., Kashan 8731751167, Iran.

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First published: 30 April 2015
Citations: 733

Abstract

Chitin and chitosan are considerably versatile and promising biomaterials. The deacetylated chitin derivative chitosan is a useful and interesting bioactive polymer. Despite its biodegradability, it has many reactive amino side groups, which offer possibilities of chemical modifications, formation of a large variety of beneficial derivatives, which are commercially available or can be made available via graft reactions and ionic interactions. This study looks at the contemporary research in chitin and chitosan towards structure, properties, and applications in various industrial and biomedical fields.

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