Simultaneous deacetylation and degradation of chitin hydrogel by electrical discharge plasma using low sodium hydroxide concentrations.

Electrical discharge plasma occurring in a liquid phase, so called solution plasma, can generate highly active species, e.g. free radicals, which can involve in various chemical reactions, leading to less chemical uses.

Depolymerization of chitosan-metal complexes via a solution plasma technique.

Chitosan-metal complexes were depolymerized under acidic conditions using a solution plasma system. Four different types of metal ions, including Ag(+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+), and Fe(3+) ions, were added to the chitosan solution at a metal-to-chitosan molar ratio of 1:8. The depolymerization rate was affected by the types of metal ions that form complexes with chitosan.