Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear
Enzymatic decomposition method of chitin-containing materials
 Chitin-containing material is heat-treated in organic solvent or in the solvent with water, and then .beta.-1, 4 glycoside decomposing enzyme is added for decomposing the chitin-containing material by enzyme reaction. Or, chitin-containing material is ultrasonicated in organic solvent or in the solvent with water, and then chitin-containing material is decomposed by enzyme reaction of .beta.-1, 4 glycoside decomposing enzyme. Further, chitin-containing material is exposed in the solution containing urea and/or surfactant, and then chitin-containing material is let co-exist with .beta.-1, 4 glycoside decomposing enzyme under the presence or non-presence of urea and/or surfactant for decomposing chitin-containing material. Or, at the time of exposing chitin-containing material in the solution containing urea and/or surfactant, the solution is heated and the .beta.-1, 4 glycoside decomposing enzyme is added for decomposing chitin-containing material. 
Akebono Brake Industry Co, Ltd. Akebono Research & Development Center Ltd.
C
C12P
inventional
Isao Takashi
Karube Morita