TITLE:
Depolymerization of α- & β-Chitosan by e-Beam Irradiation
AUTHORS:
Sueng Hwan Jo, Changyong Choi, Soo-Kyung Choi
KEYWORDS:
α- and β-Chitosan, Conformation, Depolymerization, e-Beam Irradiation, Hydrogen Peroxide
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.7 No.10,
October
22,
2019
ABSTRACT: α- and β-chitosan with molecular weight of 190,000 and 800,000 respectively, were depolymerized by e-beam irradiation with various doses. The radiation yield of scission (Gs) and degradation rate of the chitosans were identified. The synergistic chemical degradation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide is more effective at lower doses. Mw of β-chitosan was dramatically decreased from 800,000 to 21,030 at the irradiation dose 5 kGy, on the other hand, that of α-chitosan was decreased much more gradually from 190,000 to 36,000. The values of Gs at 10 kGy in the solution without H2O2 and with H2O2 were respectively 6.09 × 10-5 mol/cal and 30.6 × 10-5 mol/cal for α-Chitosan, and 8.18 × 10-5 mol/cal and 43.8 × 10-5 mol/cal for β-chitosan. It was obviously effective on depolymerization by using the combination of e-beam and H2O2. α-Chitosan molecules are likely to adopt a diffuse conformation in the solution and make the different morphologies depending on the concentration.