EFFECT OF HEATING AN AQUEOUS SUSPENSION OF CHITOSAN ON THE CRYSTALLINITY AND POLYMORPHS

Changes in the crystallinity and polymorph of chitosan, which may affect its functionality, by heating (up to 200-degrees-C) its water suspension were studied by X-ray diffraction measurements, using tendon chitosan prepared by N-deacetylation of a crab tendon chitin, and chitosan powders with various degrees of polymerization (DP-upsilon-BAR = 1,720-12,600) and N-acetylation (zero to 26%). It was found that the presence of hydrated polymorphs or anhydrous crystals in a chitosan sample could be examined easily by measuring the powder diffraction pattern of a sample. Chitosan with a low molecular weight or low degree of N-acetylation was highly crystallized, especially in the anhydrous form that is considered to spoil chitosan's functionality, by heating.