Chitin Sourcebook: A Guide to the Research Literature

Chitin is the second most abundant biopolymer found in nature after cellulose. Its usual function is as a supportive material and it forms the external skeleton of all arthropods, arachnids and insects. With increasing interest being focused on the application of natural materials in science and technology and the expansion of the biotechnology industry, a significant research effort has been directed at developing uses for chitin. Extracts of chitin from the shells of crabs and shrimps can be converted into a semi-transparent, ultra-strong, plastic-type material and the commercial potential for this and other chitin products is enormous. In recent years applications for chitin, chitin- derivatives and chitin-related enzymes have been discovered in virtually every significant segment of the economy and the number, importance and variety of industrial uses are growing rapidly. The volume comprises a thoroughly researched, expertly refereed, and carefully cross-referenced bibliography on the published chitin literature. Written for industrial product managers and researchers, it offers fast and inexpensive access to select up-to-date, practical information on chitin and its products.
The emphasis is on contemporary industrial uses of chitin in such areas as cosmetics, food, animal feedstuffs, water treatment, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles and biotechnology. Covering recent information not reported in earlier works on chitin, this invaluable reference will serve as a stimulus to further industrial research on chitin and its derivatives. The volume is aimed at researchers, lecturers and industrial managers in chemical engineering, biotechnology, material science, environmental science, food technology and polymer science.