chitin
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chitin [2016/08/05 11:26] – [THE CHITIN PROJECT] ami | chitin [2016/08/13 15:53] (current) – [2. background research] ami | ||
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- | =====THE CHITIN | + | =====THE CHITIN |
- | **abstract:** | + | =====0. |
Bee colonies are threatened in all industrialized nations. Given that the survival of bees is crucial for human sustainability, | Bee colonies are threatened in all industrialized nations. Given that the survival of bees is crucial for human sustainability, | ||
In 2009 I founded the [[http:// | In 2009 I founded the [[http:// | ||
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//scale model of the Guerilla Beehive// | //scale model of the Guerilla Beehive// | ||
- | =====1. | + | =====1. |
Can we print a beehive with chitin forthcoming from the bees exosceleton? | Can we print a beehive with chitin forthcoming from the bees exosceleton? | ||
- | =====2. | + | =====2. background research===== |
**What is Chitin?** | **What is Chitin?** | ||
Chitin is a naturally renewable source, non-toxic, non-allergenic, | Chitin is a naturally renewable source, non-toxic, non-allergenic, | ||
- | It is found in the exosceleton of arthropods, the invertebrates animals amongst which the insects and the species Apis mellifera (honeybees). | + | It is found in the exosceleton of arthropods, the invertebrates animals amongst which the insects and the species Apis mellifera (Principles of Insect Physiology |
- | Principles of Insect Physiology | + | |
**Chemistry of Chitin?** | **Chemistry of Chitin?** | ||
- | Chitin (C8H13O5N)n is a long-chain polymer of an N-acetylglucosamine, | + | Chitin (C8H13O5N)n is a long-chain polymer of an N-acetylglucosamine, |
[[https:// | [[https:// | ||
+ | [[https:// | ||
Chitin is a polysaccharide , a type of carbohydrate that has a basic structure of a repeating chain of sugar molecules. Chitin is analogous in structure to cellulose, the compound that provides structural support to plant tissues. | Chitin is a polysaccharide , a type of carbohydrate that has a basic structure of a repeating chain of sugar molecules. Chitin is analogous in structure to cellulose, the compound that provides structural support to plant tissues. | ||
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- It is an effective protection against some predators | - It is an effective protection against some predators | ||
{{: | {{: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Chitosan is a biological product with cationic (positive electrical charge) properties. It is of great interest, all the more so because most polysaccharides of the same types are neutral or negatively charged. By controlling the molecular weight, the degree of deacetylation and purity, it is possible to produce a broad range of chitosans and derivatives that can be used for industrial, dietary, cosmetic and biomedical purposes. Together these properties have led to the development of hundreds of applications so far. | ||
+ | There are plethora of literature, books and conference proceedings that documented the multiple uses of the chitosan4. It is out of the scope of this article to describe extensively every applications of chitosan. We will concentrate on the major uses of chitosan and the most promising future applications. Applications of chitosan can be classified mainly in 3 categories according to the requirement on the purity of the chitosan: | ||
+ | • Technical grade for agriculture and water treatment | ||
+ | • Pure grade for the food and cosmetics industries | ||
+ | • Ultra-pure grade for biopharmaceutical uses | ||
+ | [[http:// | ||
**Is research done on 3D-printing with Chitin?** | **Is research done on 3D-printing with Chitin?** | ||
{{: | {{: | ||
[[http:// | [[http:// | ||
+ | [[https:// | ||
+ | [[https:// | ||
+ | [[http:// | ||
+ | [[http:// | ||
- | =====3. | + | =====3. hypothesis===== |
Will the bee colony tolerate Chitin as a constructing material or will they destroy it (= eat it)? | Will the bee colony tolerate Chitin as a constructing material or will they destroy it (= eat it)? | ||
- | =====4. | + | =====4. the experiment===== |
* Make a selection of bio materials to work with: Paper, Kombucha skin, Bioplastic, Chitin. All of these bio materials have different constituents and the goal is to see which materials are nibbled on by the bees, and which materials they don't touch and thus are solid enough for construction. | * Make a selection of bio materials to work with: Paper, Kombucha skin, Bioplastic, Chitin. All of these bio materials have different constituents and the goal is to see which materials are nibbled on by the bees, and which materials they don't touch and thus are solid enough for construction. | ||
* Design a small, identical object and produce it in all of the selected materials. The size of the object should respect the thickness of the wall of a bee shelter, and a surface big enough to be able to check the behaviour of the bee colony over a timespan of 3 weeks minimum. Ideal would be a cube of 100mm x 100mm x 20mm. | * Design a small, identical object and produce it in all of the selected materials. The size of the object should respect the thickness of the wall of a bee shelter, and a surface big enough to be able to check the behaviour of the bee colony over a timespan of 3 weeks minimum. Ideal would be a cube of 100mm x 100mm x 20mm. | ||
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- | =====5.analyze your data===== | + | =====5. |
- | =====6.reach a conclusion===== | + | =====6. conclusion===== |
chitin.1470396399.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/08/05 11:26 by ami