STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF CHITOSAN .4. EFFECT OF EXPLOSION ON THE CRYSTALLINE POLYMORPHISM OF CHITIN AND CHITOSAN

For identification of how explosion increases the reactivity of chitin and chitosan, changes in the crystalline polymorphism of these polysa ccharides were studied by X-ray diffraction measurements. The a-chitin form of chitin did not change after being exploded, but an X-ray diag ram of chitosan showed a hydrated crystal of low crystallinity before the explosion, and increased crystallinity of the hydrated form plus a small amount of an anhydrous crystal after the explosion. The improve ment of accessibility to both polysaccharides caused by the explosion seemed not to arise from changes in their crystalline polymorphism or crystallinity.