Kinetics and mechanisms of depolymerization of alginate and chitosan in aqueous solution.

The kinetics and mechanisms of depolymerization of aqueous chitosan and alginate solutions at elevated temperatures have been investigated. Chitosan salts of different degree of acetylation (FA), type of counterions (-glutamate, -chloride) and degree of purity were studied. One commercially available highly purified sodium alginate sample with high content of guluronic acid (G) was also studied.