Handbook of Chitin and Chitosan: Properties and PreparationAbout This Hardback Chitin is a polysaccharide which is a long chain polymer of N acetylglucosamine. It is found in the cell walls of fungi and exoskeletons of arthropods such as insects, crustaceans, cephalopod beaks and scales of fish. It has a structure comparable to cellulose. Chitosan is formed by the treatment of chitin cells of crustaceans with an alkaline substance like sodium hydroxide. It is a linear polysaccharide which consists of randomly