Differences in degradation kinetics for sonolysis, microfluidization and shearing treatments of chitosan

Solution concentration, temperature, reaction time and use or non-use of concurrent ultrafiltration treatment for fragment removal are factors that affect the degradation rate constant in sonolysis, microfluidization and shearing treatments. The cause of these operation conditions and their effect on chitosan degradation rate constant were compared. Different operation conditions for each treatment resulted in various solution viscosities, ease of dissipation of cavitation, entanglement and stretching, in turn resulting in different rates of effectiveness of degradation by different degradation mechanisms. A rationale for applying these physical methods in practical chitosan production is proposed. (C) 2011 Society of Chemical Industry