Crude fungal chitin was prepared from shiitake stipes as the raw material using alkaline treatment followed by three various decolorization methods. Yields of crude shiitake chitins were 25.08–36.72% and in the descending order of chitins B>A>C. The crude fiber content of chitin C was higher than those of stipes and chitins A and B. Chitin C obtained by decolorization with potassium permanganate showed the best color. Using chitin C as raw material, chitosan C was obtained with higher yields. At higher ratios of chitin to sodium hydroxide of 1:9, 1:12, and 1:15, no difference in the yields was found on the basis of raw material. For the yields, better conditions were at ratios of 1:9, 1:12, and 1:15 for 60 min, and the yields were 14.14-19.14% for chitosan B and 19.54-23.69% for chitosan C. For degrees of N-deacetylation (DD), better conditions were at ratios of 1:5 and 1:15 for 120 min and the DD was 95.39-98.21%. The proposed conditions for N-deacetylation of fungal chitin would be at a ratio of 1:12 for 60min.
Crude fungal chitin was prepared from shiitake stipes as the raw material using alkaline treatment followed by three various decolorization methods. Yields of crude shiitake chitins were 25.08–36.72% and in the descending order of chitins B>A>C. The crude fiber content of chitin C was higher than those of stipes and chitins A and B. Chitin C obtained by decolorization with potassium permanganate showed the best color. Using chitin C as raw material, chitosan C was obtained with higher yields. At higher ratios of chitin to sodium hydroxide of 1:9, 1:12, and 1:15, no difference in the yields was found on the basis of raw material. For the yields, better conditions were at ratios of 1:9, 1:12, and 1:15 for 60 min, and the yields were 14.14-19.14% for chitosan B and 19.54-23.69% for chitosan C. For degrees of N-deacetylation (DD), better conditions were at ratios of 1:5 and 1:15 for 120 min and the DD was 95.39-98.21%. The proposed conditions for N-deacetylation of fungal chitin would be at a ratio of 1:12 for 60min.