Low molecular weight chitosans--preparation by depolymerization with Aspergillus niger pectinase, and characterization.

Kittur, Farooqahamed S and Vishu Kumar, Acharya B and Tharanathan, R. N. (2003) Low molecular weight chitosans--preparation by depolymerization with Aspergillus niger pectinase, and characterization. Carbohydrate research, 338 (12). pp. 1283-90. ISSN 0008-6215

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Abstract

The viscosity of a chitosan solution was rapidly lowered in the presence of pectinase from Aspergillus niger at pH 3.0 and 37 degrees C. The low molecular weight chitosans (LMWC) had a molecular weight in the range 20,000-5000 Da. Circular dichroism spectra showed a decrease in the segment of acetylated glucosamine units, whereas X-ray diffraction and CP-MAS 13C NMR indicated higher crystallinity and polymorphism in LMWC. The latter on thermal drying resulted in structural alterations, and yielded an insoluble product. FT-IR and X-ray diffraction showed no evidence of either Schiff's base linkage or any annealed polymorph. CP-MAS 13C NMR showed marked changes in the chain conformations of LMWC, which are believed to be responsible for its loss of solubility and functionality.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Chitosan; Low molecular weight chitosan; Pectinase; Solubility; Conformation
Subjects:	600 Technology > 08 Food technology > 28 Meat, Fish & Poultry
Divisions:	Dept. of Biochemistry
Depositing User:	Food Sci. & Technol. Information Services
Date Deposited:	21 Nov 2008 08:44
Last Modified:	28 Dec 2011 09:38
URI:	http://ir.cftri.res.in/id/eprint/2065

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