Moisturizing agent

Abstract

Abstract PURPOSE:To provide a moisturizing agent having high safety and excellent moisture-absorbing and moisture-retaining properties, and containing an amorphous water-soluble partially deacetylated chitin containing specific amounts of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucosamine as constituent components. CONSTITUTION:The objective moisturizing agent contains an amorphous water- soluble partially deacetylated chitin containing (A) N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and (B) D-glucosamine as constituent units, wherein the contents of (A) and (B) are 40-60% and 60-40%, respectively. The moisturizing agent exhibits excellent moisture-absorbing and retaining effects, and imparts the applied material with tackfree moist feeling because of its film-forming property originated from the polymeric structure. It has high safety and can be used as an additive to foods, cosmetics, etc. as well as to shoe polish, paint, paper products, etc. The chitin can be produced from crustaceans such as crab, shrimp, krill, etc. which is abundant in natural resources and has not hitherto been utilized effectively.

Inventors

• 👤 Ichitami Sakamoto
• 👤 一民 坂本

Bibliographic Details