| Abstract: | The microstructure characteristics of shell plates of chiton Liolophura japonica Lischke were analyzed using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). The results show that the internal structure of the shell plate of chiton Liolophura japonica is composed of seven calcium layers which were crossed lamellar crystallites, homogeneous structure, granular crystallites, and trabecular type crystallites. The element compositions of shell plates were analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results determined by XPS show that the surface chemical states of various layers are different. There are 13 elements (Na, O, N, C, S, P, Ca, Cl, Si, Al, K, Fe, Mg) on the shell plate of chiton L. japonica. Among the 13 elements, 11 are on the outside pigment layer except K and S. Among seven layers of shell plate, there is the largest quantity of elements on the outside pigment layer, and the least quantity of elements is on layer C (Articulamentum auctorum). There are 7 elements on the layer C (Articulamentum auctorum). Besides calcium carbonate, there are some inorganic compounds on the shell plate, such as NaCl, MgO, Al2O3, silicate, sulfate and phosphate. There are some organic chemical components, such as carbohydrate, organic sulfide, and organic nitride on the shell plates. |
