Determination of the viscometric constants for chitosan

Abstract

The viscometric constants a and Km in the Mark-Houwink equation have been determined for chitosan in 0.1 m acetic acid 0.2 m sodium chloride solution, using the approach of Sharples and Major. The number-average molecular weights were determined by absorbance measurements on solutions of the phenylosazone derivatives. The values obtained a = 0.93, Km = 1.81 × 10-3 cm3 g1 differ considerably from those reported previously by Lee but are in agreement with values found for other ionic polysaccharides having related β-(1 → 4)-linked structures. © 1982.