Physicochemical Properties of Chitin and Chitosan Produced from Medicinal Fungus (Fomitopsis pinicola)

Fomitopsis pincola, which is used as a medicinal fungus in Asia, is widespread throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The fungus’s chitin structure was isolated and characterized in this study. It was found that 30.11 % of the dry weight of the fungus consisted of chitin, a very high portion. The chitosan yield from the chitin was 71.75 %. It was calculated that chitin acetylation was 72.5 % and that deacetylation of chitosan was 73.1 %. The maximum temperature of degradation (DTGmax) recorded for the chitin was 341 °C and was 265 °C for chitosan. The crystalline index (CrI) value of the chitin was 52 %, while it was 41 % for the chitosan. Examination by SEM revealed that the surface morphologies of the chitin and chitosan were formed of nanofibre structures. The FTIR examination identified it as the α form of chitin. As F. pinicola is widespread, abundant and has a high chitin and chitosan content, it may be used as an alternative chitin and chitosan source.