초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Chitin, one of Nature’s most abundant biopolymers, can be obtained by either traditional chemical pulping or by extraction using the ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate. The IL extraction and coagulation process provides access to a unique chitin, with an open hydrated gel-like structure. Here, enzymatic hydrolysis of this chitin hydrogel, dried shrimp shell, chitin extracted from shrimp shells using IL and then dried, and commercial chitin was carried out using chitinase from <I>Streptomyces griseus.</I> The enzymatic hydrolysis of shrimp shells resulted only in the monomer <I>N</I>-acetylglucosamine, while much higher amounts of the dimer (<I>N,N′</I>-diacetylchitobiose) compared to the monomer were detected when using all forms of ‘pure’ chitin. Interestingly, small amounts of the trimer (<I>N,N′,N′′-</I>triacetylchitotriose) were also detected when the IL-chitin hydrogel was used as substrate. Altogether, our findings indicate that the product distribution and yield are highly dependent on the substrate selected for the reaction and its hydrated state.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Chitin obtained through different processes was used as substrate for chitinase from S. griseus. </LI> <LI> Chitin recovered using the IL process presents an unexplored source of chitin for hydrolysis. </LI> <LI> High dependence of the product distribution and yield on the substrate selected and its hydrated state. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>