Alternative methods for the pilot-scale production and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles.

This work describes the production/characterization of low molar mass chitosan nanoparticles derived from waste shrimp shells (SSC), as well as from a commercial chitosan (CC). The production of low molar mass nanochitosan employed thermal shock, alternating between 100 °C and ambient temperature, followed by grinding the dry material (SSC and CC) in a ball mill, producing around 500 g of nanochitosan per batch. A highlight of the methodology employed is that it enables nanochitosan to be obtained even from a low quality commercial raw material.