beta-CHITIN NANOFIBER AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, beta-CHITIN NANOFIBER DISPERSION, NANOFIBRIL STRUCTURE, AND CHITIN COMPOSITE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chitin nanofiber having separated single fibers having a sufficient length and not chemically modified.

SOLUTION: The β-chitin nanofiber having a width of 5-50 nm and a length of 500 nm or longer, is provided. A method for producing the β-chitin nanofiber includes the following steps: Through the step of immersing refined β-chitin with a degree of crystallinity of 90% or less in an acidic liquid with a pH of 5 or lower, positive electric charge is imparted to glucosamine regarded as being distributed over the surface of chitin nanofibrils, and the chitin nanofibrils are then subjected to low-energy loosening treatment.

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