Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Chitin shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Chitin offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Chitin at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Chitin? Wrong! If the Chitin is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Chitin then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Chitin? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Chitin and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Chitin wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Chitin then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Chitin site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Chitin, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Chitin, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
, showing two of the
N-Acetylglucosamine units that repeat to form long chains in beta-1,4 linkage.
Chitin (
carbon8
hydrogen13oxygen5
nitrogen)n (International Phonetic Alphabet: ) is a long-chain
polymer of
glucose that forms a hard, semitransparent material found throughout the natural world. It is the main component of the
cell walls of
fungi, the exoskeletons of
arthropods, such as crustaceans (e.g. crab,
lobster and
shrimp) and insects (e.g. ants, beetles and butterflies), the radula of
molluscs and the beaks of cephalopods (e.g.
squid, and
octopuses). Chitin has also proven useful for several medical and industrial purposes.
Chemistry, physical properties and biological function
Chitin is a
polysaccharide; it is biosynthesis from units of
N-acetylglucosamine (more completely, N-acetyl-D-glucos-2-amine). These units form covalent β-1,4 linkages (similar to the linkages between
glucose units forming cellulose). Chitin may therefore be described as
cellulose with one
hydroxyl group on each
monomer substituted with an
acetylamine group. This allows for increased
hydrogen bonding between adjacent polymers, giving the chitin-polymer matrix increased strength.
sheds its chitinous exoskeleton.In its unmodified form, chitin is translucent, pliable, resilient and quite tough. In arthropods, however, it is often modified, becoming embedded in a hardened
proteinaceous matrix, which forms much of the
exoskeleton. In its pure form it's leathery, but when encrusted in calcium carbonate it becomes much harder.Campbell, N. A. (1996)
Biology (4th edition) Benjamin Cummings, New Work. p.69 ISBN 0-8053-1957-3 The difference between the unmodified and modified forms can be seen by comparing the body wall of a
caterpillar (unmodified) to a beetle (modified).
Chitin is one of many naturally occurring polymers. Its breakdown may be catalyzed by
enzymes called chitinases, secreted by microorganisms such as
bacteria and fungi, and produced by some plants. Some of these microorganisms have
Chemoreceptors to simple sugars from the decomposition of chitin. If chitin is detected, they then produce enzymes to digest it by cleaving the glycosidic bonds in order to convert it to simple sugars and
ammonia.
Chemically, chitin is closely related to
chitosan (a more water-soluble derivative of chitin). It is also closely related to cellulose in that it is a long unbranched chain of glucose derivatives. Both materials contribute structure and strength, protecting the organism.
Etymology
The English word "chitin" comes from the
French language word "chitine", which first appeared in 1836. These words were derived from the
Latin language word "chitōn", meaning
mollusk. That is either influenced by, or related to the
Greek language word
chiton (costume), meaning "
tunic" or "frock", the Central Semitic word "*kittan", the
Akkadian language words "kitû" or "kita’um", meaning
flax or linen, and the
Sumerian language word "gada" or "gida". American Heritage dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. entry for chiton
A similar word, "
Chiton#Name", refers to a marine animal with a protective shell (also known as a "sea cradle").
Uses
Industrial
Chitin is used industrially in many processes. It is used in
water purification, and as an additive to thicken and stabilize foods and pharmaceuticals. It also acts as a binder in dyes, fabrics, and adhesives. Industrial separation membranes and ion-exchange resins can be made from chitin. Processes to size and strengthen paper employ chitin.
Medicine
Chitin's properties as a flexible and tensile strength material make it favourable as
Suture. Its
biodegradation means it wears away with time as the wound heals. Moreover, chitin has some unusual properties that accelerate healing of wounds in humans. Chitin has even been used as a stand-alone wound-healing agent. http://www.halosource.com/licoppstechnology.asp Chitin is used to make
Chitosan, a product with numerous commercial and possible biomedical uses. Its most famous use is as a weight loss product.
Agriculture
Most recent studies point out that chitin is a good inductor for
plant defense against herbivory in plants. It was recently tested as a fertilizer that can help plants develop healthy immune responses, and have a much better yield and life expectancy.
References
External links
- Chitin Product Information from China GreatVista Chemicals
- Horseshoe Crab Chitin Research
-
, showing two of the N-Acetylglucosamine units that repeat to form long chains in beta-1,4 linkage.
Chitin (
carbon8
hydrogen13
oxygen5nitrogen)n (International Phonetic Alphabet: ) is a long-chain polymer of
glucose that forms a hard, semitransparent material found throughout the natural world. It is the main component of the
cell walls of fungi, the
exoskeletons of arthropods, such as crustaceans (e.g.
crab,
lobster and
shrimp) and
insects (e.g.
ants, beetles and
butterflies), the
radula of molluscs and the beaks of cephalopods (e.g. squid, and
octopuses). Chitin has also proven useful for several medical and industrial purposes.
Chemistry, physical properties and biological function
Chitin is a
polysaccharide; it is
biosynthesis from units of
N-acetylglucosamine (more completely, N-acetyl-D-glucos-2-amine). These units form covalent β-1,4 linkages (similar to the linkages between
glucose units forming cellulose). Chitin may therefore be described as
cellulose with one hydroxyl group on each
monomer substituted with an acetyl
amine group. This allows for increased hydrogen bonding between adjacent
polymers, giving the chitin-polymer matrix increased strength.
sheds its chitinous exoskeleton.In its unmodified form, chitin is translucent, pliable, resilient and quite tough. In arthropods, however, it is often modified, becoming embedded in a hardened proteinaceous matrix, which forms much of the exoskeleton. In its pure form it's leathery, but when encrusted in calcium carbonate it becomes much harder.Campbell, N. A. (1996)
Biology (4th edition) Benjamin Cummings, New Work. p.69 ISBN 0-8053-1957-3 The difference between the unmodified and modified forms can be seen by comparing the body wall of a
caterpillar (unmodified) to a
beetle (modified).
Chitin is one of many naturally occurring polymers. Its breakdown may be catalyzed by
enzymes called
chitinases, secreted by microorganisms such as bacteria and
fungi, and produced by some plants. Some of these microorganisms have Chemoreceptors to simple sugars from the decomposition of chitin. If chitin is detected, they then produce enzymes to digest it by cleaving the
glycosidic bonds in order to convert it to simple sugars and
ammonia.
Chemically, chitin is closely related to
chitosan (a more water-soluble derivative of chitin). It is also closely related to cellulose in that it is a long unbranched chain of
glucose derivatives. Both materials contribute structure and strength, protecting the organism.
Etymology
The English word "chitin" comes from the
French language word "chitine", which first appeared in 1836. These words were derived from the
Latin language word "chitōn", meaning
mollusk. That is either influenced by, or related to the Greek language word
chiton (costume), meaning "tunic" or "
frock", the Central Semitic word "*kittan", the Akkadian language words "kitû" or "kita’um", meaning flax or linen, and the Sumerian language word "gada" or "gida". American Heritage dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. entry for chiton
A similar word, "
Chiton#Name", refers to a marine animal with a protective shell (also known as a "sea cradle").
Uses
Industrial
Chitin is used industrially in many processes. It is used in water purification, and as an additive to thicken and stabilize foods and pharmaceuticals. It also acts as a binder in dyes, fabrics, and adhesives. Industrial separation membranes and ion-exchange resins can be made from chitin. Processes to size and strengthen paper employ chitin.
Medicine
Chitin's properties as a flexible and
tensile strength material make it favourable as Suture. Its
biodegradation means it wears away with time as the wound heals. Moreover, chitin has some unusual properties that accelerate healing of wounds in
humans. Chitin has even been used as a stand-alone wound-healing agent. http://www.halosource.com/licoppstechnology.asp Chitin is used to make Chitosan, a product with numerous commercial and possible biomedical uses. Its most famous use is as a weight loss product.
Agriculture
Most recent studies point out that chitin is a good inductor for plant defense against herbivory in plants. It was recently tested as a fertilizer that can help plants develop healthy
immune responses, and have a much better yield and life expectancy.
References
External links
- Chitin Product Information from China GreatVista Chemicals
- Horseshoe Crab Chitin Research
-
Chitin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chitin (C 8 H 13 O 5 N) n (pronounced /ˈkaɪtən/) is a long-chain polymer of a N-acetylglucosamine, a derivative of glucose, and it is found in many places throughout the natural ...
chitin - Hutchinson encyclopedia article about chitin
chitin. Complex long-chain compound, or polymer; a nitrogenous derivative of glucose. Chitin is widely found in invertebrates. It forms the exoskeleton of insects and other ...
Definition: chitin from Online Medical Dictionary
The Online Medical Dictionary is a searchable dictionary of definitions from medicine, science and technology.
chitin - Definitions from Dictionary.com
noun Biochemistry. a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide, related chemically to cellulose, that forms a semitransparent horny substance and is a principal constituent of the ...
Rheology of Chitin
Chitin is a white, horny substance found in the outer skeletons of crabs, and lobsters and in the internal structures of other invertebrates.
Rheology of Chitin
Two solvent systems were investigated to assess their suitability in dissolving chitin. Both were capable of dissolving Fluka and purified University chitin ...
chitin - definition of chitin in the Medical dictionary - by the Free ...
chitin /chi·tin/ (ki´tin) an insoluble, linear polysaccharide forming the principal constituent of arthropod exoskeletons and found in some plants, particularly fungi.
chitin - definition of chitin by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus ...
A tough, protective, semitransparent substance, primarily a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide, forming the principal component of arthropod exoskeletons and the cell walls of ...
Web Chitin and Chitosan Association. ---A World Wide Web Club for the ...
Web Chitin and Chitosan Association. ---The World Wide Web Club for the Chitin and Chitosan, Free Membership.
Chitin definition of Chitin in the Free Online Encyclopedia.
chitin (kīt`ən), main constituent of the shells of arthropods. Chitin, a polysaccharide (see carbohydrate carbohydrate, any member of a large class of chemical compounds that ...
