Synthesis, Characterization and Optimization of Water-Soluble Chitosan Derivatives

Chitosan was chemically modified using monochloroacetic acid at various reaction conditions. Chemical structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The carboxymethyl chitosan (CM-chitosan) was prepared at different temperatures, water/isopropanol (IPA) ratios and alkali concentrations. Reaction conditions have great influence on the degree of substitution (DS) and, in turn, the solubility. The water solubility of chitosan derivatives depended upon modification conditions and degree of substitution.