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Exploring the Factors Affecting the Solubility of Chitosan in Water
Author(s) -
Sogias Ioannis A.,
Khutoryanskiy Vitaliy V.,
Williams Adrian C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200900385
Subject(s) - solubility , crystallinity , chitosan , chemistry , intramolecular force , polymer chemistry , hydrogen bond , biopolymer , solvation , macromolecule , aqueous solution , protonation , solvation shell , plasticizer , urea , chemical engineering , polymer , solvent , organic chemistry , molecule , crystallography , ion , biochemistry , engineering
We explore the role of crystallinity and inter‐ or intramolecular forces in chitosan for its solubility in water and demonstrate the expansion of its solubility to a wider pH range. Due to its semicrystalline nature, derived mainly from inter‐ and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, chitosan is water‐soluble only at pH < 6. In acidic conditions, its amino groups can be partially protonated resulting in repulsion between positively charged macrochains, thereby allowing diffusion of water molecules and subsequent solvation of macromolecules. We show that chemical disruption of chitosan crystallinity by partial re‐acetylation or physical disruption caused by the addition of urea and guanidine hydrochloride broadens the pH‐solubility range for this biopolymer.
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