Characterization of chitosan by steric exclusion chromatography

Abstract In this paper, the gel permeation chromatography of chitosan with different degrees of acetylation (0 L p ) of chitosan as a function of DA is discussed; the role of the method of preparation of the samples is also pointed out. For heterogeneously acetylated chitosan, L p =110 A is found to be independent on DA in the range 0 L p increases slightly from 110 to 150 A when DA increases up to 60%. These conclusions may be related with the acetyl group distribution along the chains as examined by NMR.