Chitin and Chitosan: Discoveries and Applications for Sustainability provides the most comprehensive knowledge on these organic biopolymers which come from the cellular makeup of crustaceans, mollusks and arthropods. This book synthesizes historical information, fundamental properties, industrial applications, and recent discoveries and uses. Written by an international expert on chitin and chitosan sources and uses, the book discusses landmark discoveries and early uses in the research and applications of chitin and chitosan. It then explores the international use of chitin and chitosan as organic solutions across various disciplines such as aquaculture, agriculture, food and beverage industries, cosmetics and medicine.

Section I: Historical Landmarks 1. The decalcification of the shells of crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and crayfish with mineral acids 2. The nitrogenous nature of chitin 3. How to identify nitrogen in chitin 4. Ammonia release in arthropod exoskeletons 5. Identification of chitosan 6. Obtaining glucosamine from arthropod chitin 7. Obtaining glucosamine from boiling bone cartilage 8. The composite and chemical relationships between chitin and chitosan 9. Research and challenges of chitin occurrence in living organisms 10. Similarities in arthropod and plant chitins 11. Chitosamine 12. First applications of chitin and chitosan in commercial development 13. Similarities in cellulose and chitin 14. Findings from The First International Chitin and Chitosan Conference 15. Findings from The European Chitin Society

Subject Areas: The environment [RN], Environmental economics [KCN]