Products from microwave and ultrasonic wave assisted acid hydrolysis of chitin

► Acid hydrolysis of α-chitin using microwave and ultrasonic wave were studied. ► The microwave assisted hydrolysis afforded GlcN.HCl in 56% yield within 12 min. ► Sonication allows solubilization of chitin in conc. HCl at room temperature. ► GlcNAc was isolated in up to 37% yield after the sonication of chitin at 30 °C.