Chitin nanofibers were prepared from purified crab-shell chitin particles by repeated high-pressure homogenization in water. AFM images showed that the chitin nanofibers had heterogeneous network structures. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that both the crystallinity index and crystal width of the original α-chitin decreased by nanofibrillation. Solid-state 13C-NMR spectra showed that all C6–OH groups had the gauche–gauche conformation. The degree of N-acetylation increased from 0.83 to 0.98 by nanofibrillation, while the weight-average molar masses of the original chitin and chitin nanofibers were 271,200 and 165,500, respectively.
- Yuko Ono
- Kota Ogura
- Akira Isogai
