Degradation of chitosan by hydrodynamic cavitation

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability Vol. 98; no. 1; pp. 37 - 43
• Main Authors: Huang, Yongchun, Wu, Yu, Huang, Weichun, Yang, Feng, Ren, Xian’ e
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cavitation; Chitosan; Degradation; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Hydrodynamic cavitation; Hydrodynamics; Natural polymers; Orifice plate; Physicochemistry of polymers; Plates (structural members); Starch and polysaccharides; Upstream; Hydrodynamic cavitation; Degradation; Chitosan; Orifice plate; Physical dressing; Hydrodynamic method; Molecular weight viscosity relationship; pH effect; Experimental study; Cavitation; Concentration effect; Oside polymer; Aqueous solution; Rheological properties
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2012.11.001

A novel method of degradation of chitosan, by hydrodynamic cavitation using an orifice plate, was investigated. The effects of initial concentration, solution pH, upstream pressure and geometry of the orifice plate on the degradation of chitosan were evaluated. It was found that lower initial concentration of chitosan solution, lower solution pH, higher upstream pressure of the orifice plate, and longer treatment time are favourable for the degradation of chitosan solution. It was also found that the degradation of chitosan solution was dependant on the geometry of the orifice plate. The plates with a larger number holes and smaller hole diameter favoured chitosan degradation. Structures of the degraded products were characterized with Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The present study conclusively establishes that hydrodynamic cavitation can be effectively used for the degradation of chitosan.