shells to chitin. In the second stage chitin was subjected for
deacetylation using alkali where in the acetamide group was converted
into amino group and nitrogen content (%) showed obvious
increase which further increased when the deacetylation process
was repeated. The degree of deacetylation of the chitosan after
second deacetylation was higher than that of chitosan after first
deacetylation as reflected in the nitrogen content values. The chitosan
samples prepared in the laboratory and that obtained from
the market when compared, it was found that the laboratory sample
(after 2nd deacetylation) had lower molecular weight, although
the nitrogen content and degree of deacetylation in both the samples
were more or less the same.