CHEMICAL PULPING OF CHITINOUS BIOMASS FOR CHITIN

摘要

Methods of separating chitin from a chitinous biomass that contains chitin and non-chitin material by a chemical pulping process that uses a protic ionic liquid or a composition comprising acid and base precursor molecules are described. Also described are methods for purifying chemically pulped chitin resulting in a pure chitin material with a high molecular weight and a higher degree of acetylation in comparison to traditional pulping and ionic liquid extraction based methods.

主权项

1. A method for separating chitin from a chitinous biomass that contains chitin and non-chitin material, comprising: contacting the chitinous biomass with a protic ionic liquid to form a mixture, wherein a majority of the non-chitin material from the chitinous biomass is removed from the chitinous biomass by the ionic liquid, and a majority of the chitin from the chitinous biomass is not dissolved in the ionic liquid and forms a residue; wherein about 30 wt. % or more of the residue is chitin.