Chitin is the second most abundance form of biomass and represents an untapped source of energy and feedstock chemicals.  It has remained untapped due to the complex network of hydrogen bonding that makes the biopolymer difficult to dissolve.  Ionic liquids (ILs) have the unique ability to disrupt the hydrogen bonding network and dissolve chitin without degradation.  This research will investigate the use of ionic liquids for the degradation of chitin to produce feedstock chemicals, such as N-acetylglucosamine and other products.  In this study, a Br�nsted acid functionalized ionic liquid will be used to catalyze the hydrolysis of the �-1,4 linkages present in the polymer.  The study will include effects of structural changes on the effectiveness of the catalyst and temperature on the products of the hydrolysis reaction.  The products from the catalytic reaction will be analyzed by UV/Vis and HPLC with an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD).

Degradation of chitin utilizing acid functionalized ionic liquid technology

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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