Studies on Chitin V. The Action of Mineral Acids on Chitin

Abstract

Chitin undergoes rapid and extensive degradation at 20�C when dissolved in ION hydrochloric acid, 21N sulphuric acid, or 85% phosphoric acid. Most of the degradation occurs in the first few minutes after the chitin is dissolved and the products formed are oligosaccharides (which are to some extent deacetylated) and N�acetyl-D.glucosamine. Glucosamine was not found except possibly in the smallest traces. "Colloidal" chitin, prepared by precipitation of chitin from solution in cold 21N sulphuric acid, has a very much shorter chain length than the chitin from which it was prepared. Chitin is more stable in dilute (2N) hydrochloric acid.