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Preparation of Expanded Chitin Foams and their Use in the Removal of Aqueous Copper
Published on: February 27, 2021
Solubilization of chitosan by bipolar membrane electroacidification
Fabrice Lin Teng Shee1, Joseph Arul, Serge Brunet
1Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF), Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Laval University, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|August 31, 2006
Summary
Bipolar membrane electroacidification (BMEA) effectively solubilized chitosan, achieving a 91% yield in 60 minutes under optimal conditions. This method offers an efficient way to process chitosan for various applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Chitosan, derived from chitin, is a valuable biopolymer with limited solubility.
- Traditional methods for chitosan solubilization can be inefficient or environmentally taxing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of bipolar membrane electroacidification (BMEA) for chitosan solubilization.
- To determine the optimal BMEA configuration and operational parameters for maximizing chitosan solubility.
Main Methods:
- Utilized bipolar membrane electroacidification (BMEA) with varying configurations (bipolar/monopolar) and chitosan addition modes (single step/stepwise).
- Monitored chitosan solubility, electroacidification parameters, pH, conductivity, and ash content.
- Evaluated energy consumption for the process.
Main Results:
- The bipolar/anionic configuration with stepwise feeding yielded 91% chitosan solubilization in 60 minutes at 20 mA/cm(2).
- The resulting chitosan solution exhibited a pH of 2.5, conductivity of 8.5 mS/cm, and 0.2% ash content.
- Energy consumption was recorded at 0.05 kWh/L for a 1% chitosan solution, with some particle aggregation observed.
Conclusions:
- BMEA is a highly effective method for solubilizing chitosan, achieving high yields rapidly.
- Optimal conditions involve a bipolar/anionic configuration and stepwise feeding, despite minor aggregation issues.
- The process demonstrates efficient energy use and produces a chitosan solution suitable for further applications.
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