Chitin Chemistry

The book presents a comprehensive and critical account of the chemistry of chitin and chitosan. The first three chapters cover chemical structure and morphology, including that of chitin-protein complexes of native chitin, the isolation of chitin and the preparation of chitosan, and methods of analysis for both polymers. The fourth and largest chapter deals with their derivatisation whilst further aspects of their chemistry such as acid-base properties, metal ion adsorption, degradation, solubility, solution behaviour and gelation, are dealt with in the final two chapters.