Facile isolation of colloidal stable chitin nano-crystals from Metapenaeus ensis shell via solid maleic acid hydrolysis and their application for synthesis of silver nanoparticles

Abstract

Recently, the isolation of chitin nano-crystals (ChNCs) via green methods has received great interests in the scientific research community. In this study, one-pot and eco-friendly process to isolate ChNCs from Metapenaeus ensis shell via solid maleic acid hydrolysis was proposed. It was found that the highest ChNC yield can be reached to 10.42% when at the condition of 75% acid concentration and 110 °C for 3 h, and that the as-prepared ChNC suspensions exhibited extraordinary colloidal stability for 7 months. The corresponding length of ChNCs was 170.6 nm and the carboxylic group content was as high as 0.173 mmol/g. ChNCs were then applied as the efficient and green supports of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and found that ChNCs can help generate Ag NPs with tiny and uniform particle size. The study paves a great potential way to isolate ChNCs from marine crustacean with high colloidal stability and the potential application in the preparation of uniform noble metal nanoparticles. A one-pot facile and environmental friendly approach to isolate ChNCs from Chitin (Metapenaeus ensis shell as the marine biomass precursors) with high colloidal stability via solid maleic acid hydrolysis is proposed.