Abstract
Chitosan should be satisfied a certain Mw range for the final application, Low molecular weight chitosan(LMWC) can be acquired by depolymerizing high molecular weight starting chitosan. Using $H_2O_2$ in depolymerizing chitosan is very effective and reproducible in controlling Mw of resulting LMWC. However, $H_2O_2$ can break glycoside linkage of chitosan and oxidize some $-NH_2$ groups in chitosan. It has been reported that decrease in DA(degree of deacetylation) of LMWC prepared by $H_2O_2$. However, any quantitative data of decrease in DA has not been reported yet. In this study, DA of initial chitosan and DA of $H_2O_2$ treated chitosan were measured and the change in DA of chitosan upon $H_2O_2$ treatment were investigated. Change in DA was very different upon $H_2O_2$ treatment condition. LMWC also showed DA change upon time passage. Pre-swelling treatment of initial chitosan and low ratio of $H_2O_2$/chitosan prevented a decrease in DA significantly. Yellowing of LMWC was detected upon time passage, however, decrease in DA was minimal (around 1%).
