Green Topochemical Esterification Effects on the Supramolecular Structure of Chitin Nanocrystals: Implications for Highly Stable Pickering Emulsions.

ABSTRACT: In nature, chitin is organized in hierarchical structures composed of nanoscale building blocks that show outstanding mechanical and optical properties attractive for nanomaterial design. For applications that benefit from a maximized interface such as nanocomposites and Pickering emulsions, individualized chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) are of interest. However, when extracted in water suspension, their individualization is affected by ChNC self-assembly, requiring a large amount of water (above 90%) for ChNC transport and stock, which limits their widespread use. To master their individualization upon drying and after regeneration, we herein report a waterborne topochemical one-pot acid hydrolysis/Fischer esterification to extract ChNCs from chitin and simultaneously decorate their surface w

SUBMITTER: Magnani C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9039965 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature