Base-catalysed, one-step mechanochemical conversion of chitin and shrimp shells into low molecular weight chitosan

A facile, solid-state mechanochemical method was developed for the synthesis of low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) in one step from chitin and crude shrimp shell powders, in which chitin undergoes simultaneous deacetylation and depolymerisation in the presence of a base catalyst under mechanical milling.