Catalytic upgrading of chitin: Advances, mechanistic insights, and prospect

The most plentiful renewable nitrogenous material on earth is chitin, which may be obtained from the shell waste of crustaceans. This waste is not fully utilized, resulting in resource waste and disposal problems. Due to the enormous potential of chitin pricing, a novel idea for shell biorefining has recently been put forth. Several valuable chemicals have been produced from chitin biomass, including small-molecule compounds, prodrugs, and monomers of polymers. This paper reviews the recent progress in the catalytic conversion of chitin, chitosan, and their derivatives to various chemicals and biomaterials. The selection and properties of catalysts and catalytic systems were introduced. The mechanism of transformation or modification is emphasized. The challenges and prospects of chitin transformation and modification are presented.