Facile preparation of re-dispersible/amphoteric nanochitin powder via choline chloride/propanedioic composite for stabilizing Pickering emulsions.

Choline chloride (ChCl)/propanedioic acid (PA) based hydrated composites are synthesized for producing nanochitins from crab shell in this work. The yield of nanochitin remains higher than 75 %, even if the water content reaches 80 %. ChCl is found necessary for the successful nano-fibrillation of chitin. However, PA contributes more to the yield improvement of nanochitin. ChCl mediated PA hydrolysis leads to the successful grafting of carboxyl groups in nanochitins, contributing to its amphoteric dispersed nature. After salt-induced separation and freeze-drying treatment, dried nanochitin powder can be prepared and found to disperse well either in acidic or alkaline suspension, exhibiting efficient drying/redispersion performance. The well amphoteric and drying/redispersion nature both benefit the facile preparation of nanochitin-based Pickering emulsions. For Pickering emulsion prepared under different pH, creaming only appears under acidic conditions (pH 3) for which the creaming index reaches 10.56 % after 30 days of storage. No obvious de-emulsification can be observed under pH 7 and 10. The efficient amphoteric and drying/redispersion nature together with the simplified preparation process of nanochitins are believed to facilitate the processing and practical applications of nanochitin.