Chitin is linear polysaccharide, while chitosan is a partially deacetylated derivative of chitin, resulting in a material that is more soluble than chitin and has a wider range of applications.

  Chitin is linear polysaccharide, while chitosan is a partially deacetylated derivative of chitin, resulting in a material that is more soluble than chitin and has a wider range of applications. 

Here's a more detailed comparison: 

Chitin: 

Structure:

A linear polysaccharide composed of repeating units of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. 

Source:

Abundant in nature, found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans, insects, and fungi, as well as in some algae and plant cell walls. 

Properties:

Insoluble in water and most organic solvents, making it difficult to process. 

Applications:

Used in various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, as well as in biomedical applications like wound healing and tissue engineering. 

Chitosan: 

Structure:

A linear polysaccharide composed of repeating units of glucosamine (GlcN) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), where a fraction of the N-acetyl groups have been removed through a deacetylation process. 

Source:

Derived from chitin through deacetylation, typically obtained from crustacean shells. 

Properties:

More soluble in acidic solutions compared to chitin, making it easier to process and use. 

Applications:

Widely used in various fields, including medicine (drug delivery, wound healing), agriculture (plant growth, pest control), and environmental applications (water treatment, heavy metal removal).