Dainichiseika＞

{Latest date : 07/23/2007}


	DAICHITOSAN
	Functional polymer found in Nature, Chitosan

Chitosan is a deacetylated chitin. Chitin is a natural linear polysaccharide and has widespread distribution in Nature. Chitosan itself is also found in Nature in some case, although it is industrially obtained by hydrolyzing the amino acetyl groups of chitin from shells of crabs or shrimps in an aqueous alkali solution. That is to say, chitosan is a polysaccharide derived from natural products. Thus, chitosan can be decomposed by microorganisms.

Chemical structures of chitin and chitosan

General Characteristics

1.	Chitosan is a functional polymer found in Nature, and is known to be safe and biocompatible.
2.	Chitosan has a number of reactive amino groups and acts as a cationic polymer which is minor substance in Nature.
3.	Chitosan has a good film-forming property, and its film likes cellophan and semipermeable. Chitosan can take up and release water vapor depending upon the relative humidity, and can be dyed easier than wool and silk.
4.	Chitosan is soluble in an aqueous acid solution and forms very viscous solution.

DAICHITOSAN or chitosan is characterized by its various viscosity type from very high to extra low value as shown in the Property of DAICHITOSAN. It is reported that a polymer with higher molecular weight has higher coagulating ability. The molecular weight of DAICHITOSAN-VH is estimated to be 1,000,000 and the chitosan with such high molecular weight has not been industrially manufactured yet in other companies except DAINICHISEIKA.

DAINICHISEIKA is a leading manufacturer of Chitin and chitosan in Japan and actually manufacturing more than ten tons per month of DAICHITOSAN or chitosan right now. DAINICHISEIKA is now commercially supplying high quality DAICHITOSAN to various industries.

Applications

Cosmetic	Humectant.
Water treatment	Cationic coagulating agent, Chelating agent, Absorbent of dye.
Paper & Film coating	Paper strengthening agent, Coating for improving dye or printing ability.
Food	Dietary fiber, Preservative.
Agriculture	Seed coating for yield enhancing.
Fiber	Antimicrobial agent, Antiallergic agent.
Others	Inhibitor for microorganisms, Carrier for chromatography.

Products

DAICHITOSAN VH	Specially high viscosity grade.
DAICHITOSAN H	High viscosity grade.
DAICHITOSAN VL	Extra low viscosity grade.
DAICHITOSAN FP	Fine particles with 2-4 microns in diameter.
DAICHITOSAN W-1O	Aqueous solution with 10% content of chitosan.
CHITOSEEDCOLOR	Coloring and treating agent for seed.
Chitosan derivatives	Water soluble salt of chitosan, Hydroxypropyl chitosan.

Property of DAICHITOSAN

Property	DAICHITOSAN VL	DAICHITOSAN M	DAICHITOSAN H
Grain color	White	Light pink	Light pink
Moisture content	10.0%	10.0%	10.0%
Insolubles	1.0%	1.0%	1.0%
Solution color	Clear	Clear	Clear
Ash	2.0%	2.0%	2.0%
Viscosity	51cps *1	200-600cps *2	700cps *2
Degree of deacetylation	80.0%	80.0%	80.0%

*1 : 1.0% chitosan in 1.0% AcOH, *2 : 0.5% chitosan in 0.5% AcOH

Solubility
Chitosan is insoluble in water(pH

7) but soluble in aqueous acids such as acetic, Adipic,formic,lactic,malic,malonic,propionic,pyruvic,succinic,nitric, Hydrochloric acid and so on.

Information
R&D Div.
Dainichiseika Color & Chemcals Mfg. Co.,Ltd.
1-7-6 Bakuro-cho,Nihonbashi,Chuo-ku,Tokyo 103
Phone : (03)-3662-4186
FAX : (03)-3664-4088
e-mail : chitosan@daicolor.co.jp