Radiation degradation and crosslinking of polysaccharides and its application

Polysaccharides such as alginate and chitin/chitosan undergo degradation by irradiation. Degradation behavior was different under irradiation conditions. It was found that required dose to get small molecular weight sample was lower for aqueous solution state than solid phase. Degraded alginate and chitosan were effective as a plant growth promoter and the favorable molecular weight was less than 10,000. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), Carboxymethylchitin (CM-chitin) and carboxymethylchitosan (CM-chitosan) form gels when irradiated at paste-like condition. Bedsore prevention mat filled up CMC hydrogel crosslinked by irradiation at paste-like condition was practical applied as a health care products. It was found that CM-chitosan hydrogels have anti-microbial activity and effective as absorbents to remove metal ions. Cellulose derivative having phthalate function (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, HPMCP) crosslinked with EB-irradiation at paste-like condition absorbed organic solvents such as chloroform and pyridine. (author)