EN
The literature on the adsorption and diffusion of anionic dyes, including acid, direct, reactive and metal-complexed dyes, on chitin and chitosan is reviewed. The similarity of the overall chain structure of cellulose to both chitin and chitosan, together with the presence of the C(2)-amine groups on the latter two polymers, means that they show considerable similarity in dyeing behaviour to both polysaccharide and protein substrates.