Abstract
This study was to investigate the effects of polysaccharide chain conformation on ultrasonic degradation of curdlan, a high MW β-glucan with wide applications. The ultrasonic degradation was performed in alkaline solution at 0.1 M and 0.3 M NaOH, in which the curdlan chain was mainly in triple helical conformation and random coil form, respectively. The degradation rate was represented by the kinetic model, 1/Mt − 1/Mo = kt, with the rate constant k increasing with the ultrasonic power. The degradation rate was much higher in 0.3 M NaOH than in 0.1 M NaOH, suggesting that curdlan in random coil conformation was more liable to degradation than in helical conformation. Curdlan in 0.1 M NaOH was changed from triple helices to single helices and eventually to random coils with a higher solubility. In summary, ultrasonic degradation of curdlan in alkaline solution had a close and complex relationship to the chain conformation changes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 298-302 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Carbohydrate Polymers |
Volume | 195 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2018 |
Keywords
- Chain conformation
- Curdlan
- Intrinsic viscosity
- Kinetics
- Molecular weight
- Ultrasonic degradation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Organic Chemistry
- Polymers and Plastics
- Materials Chemistry