Structure and Sorption Characteristics of Nanocrystallites of Chitosan

Abstract

The structural features and thermal and sorption characteristics of nanocrystallites of chitosan, produced by hydrolysis and alcoholysis of high-molecular chitosan, were examined. The nature of the changes in the supramolecular structure and characteristics of the nanoparticles (degree of crystallinity, geometric dimensions of the crystallites, specific surface area) that are most significant in the nanocrystallites produced during precipitation of the products from homogeneous sulfuric acid hydrolysis of chitosan with NaOH solution is presented on the basis of data from thermogravimetric analysis, atomic-force microscopy, NMR relaxometry, and calculation of the sorption isotherms.