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| Partially deacetylated chitin nano-fiber (DAChN) dispersions were prepared through mechanical treatment of partially deacetylated crab shell α-chitin under acid conditions mediated by various protonic acids. The representative organic acids (monovalent acid: acetic acid, polyvalent acid: succinic acid, hydroxyl acid: gluconic acid, vinyl acid: itaconic acid, amino acid: aspartic acid) had a better efficiency on mediating nanofibrillation of chitin fibers than inorganic acid (HCl). The DAChN dispersed in water at pH 3.5 mediated by gluconic acid exhibited the highest yield of nano-fibers (88.6%), followed by succinic, itaconic, and ascorbic acid with nano-fiber yield of 79.9%, 73.3% and 66.0%, respectively. The pH value, conductivity, viscosity and light transmittance of dispersions were assessed under different storage time. All of the tested DAChN dispersions were stable for at least 15 weeks at 4℃. |
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| Keywords:Partially deacetylated chitin nano-fiber (DAChN); protonic acid mediation; dispersion stability |
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