According to present-day knowledge, chitosan is a cellulose chain in which OH groups at the number 2 atoms of the glucose rings have been replaced by NH2. It is prepared from chitin by a treatment with HC1 to demineralize the substance, followed by extraction with ethyl alcohol. The poly-N-acetyl glucosamine obtained is then saponified with a 50% KOH solution a t 100°C. According to Lusena and Rose,2 the molecular weight of the end-product depends on the circumstances under which demineralization took place.I n connection with previous work on carboxymethyl ~ellulose,~-~ it seemed of interest to study the polyelectrolyte properties of chitosan in solution and to compare this basic cellulose derivative with the acidic one.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.