Microcrystalline chitin and method of manufacture

A free amino microcrystalline chitin preferably in solid form is obtained. The process may involve the following steps of (1) treating particulate chitin at elevated temperature with phosphoric acid diluted with a lower aliphatic alcohol, (2) treating the resulting chitin with an alkali, (3) washing the chitin to remove the alkali from the chitin emulsion, (4) subjecting the chitin during at least one of the preceding steps to high speed shearing action to convert the processed chitin to the microcrystalline form, and (5) subjecting the resulting microcrystalline chitin emulsion from step 3 to the cycle of freezing and thawing, thereby separating the chitin as a solid from the liquid of the emulsion.