N-palmitoyl-d-glucosamine in a micronized form

A process for crystallizing N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine in the presence of a fatty acid, comprising the following steps:

• a) providing N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine, preferably with a purity >98%, determined by TLC analysis;
• b) suspending N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine in a polar solvent along with the fatty acid or a salt thereof, wherein the fatty acid or a salt thereof is present in amounts by weight from 2% to 20%, or from 4% to 10% with respect to N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine;
• c) heating the suspension from step b) at a temperature from 50° C. to 90° C. or at reflux of the solvent, for a time longer than 15 minutes, or longer than 30 minutes, or longer than 1 hour;
• d) slowly bringing the crystallization mixture to a temperature below 10° C.;
• e) recovering the crystallisate in the form of an intimate mixture of N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine and fatty acid.