Preparation, characterization and application in environmental protection of low-molecular-weight chitosan: a review

Abstract Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin, which is the second most abundant and renewable polymer in nature after cellulose. Low-molecular-weight chitosan (LMWC) is the degradation product of chitosan through depolymerization. Compared with conventional chitosan, LMWC is considered as o...

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Main Authors: Yaolan Niu, Wei Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:Sustainable Environment Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s42834-024-00236-8
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author Yaolan Niu
Wei Hu
author_facet Yaolan Niu
Wei Hu
author_sort Yaolan Niu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin, which is the second most abundant and renewable polymer in nature after cellulose. Low-molecular-weight chitosan (LMWC) is the degradation product of chitosan through depolymerization. Compared with conventional chitosan, LMWC is considered as one of the most promising functional materials due to its characteristics of lower polymerization degree, lower viscosity, good water solubility, reactivity and degradability. This review focused on the preparation and characterization methods as well as the application in environmental remediation of LMWC. The three main methods of LMWC preparation including chemical, physical and enzymatic methods were summarized and compared in this paper. The mechanism, advantages and disadvantages of various preparation methods were also discussed. In addition, the applications of LMWC in environmental fields such as water treatment, soil remediation and air purification were briefly reviewed. With the continuous progress of science and technology and the improvement of environmental awareness, it is believed that more efficient, economical and environmentally friendly chitosan degradation methods will be developed, providing strong support for the wide application of LMWC in the field of environmental protection.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2468-2039
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher BMC
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series Sustainable Environment Research
spelling doaj-art-0b12efd0bd724cfd8736408c5b9264af2024-12-01T12:46:41ZengBMCSustainable Environment Research2468-20392024-11-0134111610.1186/s42834-024-00236-8Preparation, characterization and application in environmental protection of low-molecular-weight chitosan: a reviewYaolan Niu0Wei Hu1Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, Guilin University of Aerospace TechnologyDepartment of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, Guilin University of Aerospace TechnologyAbstract Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin, which is the second most abundant and renewable polymer in nature after cellulose. Low-molecular-weight chitosan (LMWC) is the degradation product of chitosan through depolymerization. Compared with conventional chitosan, LMWC is considered as one of the most promising functional materials due to its characteristics of lower polymerization degree, lower viscosity, good water solubility, reactivity and degradability. This review focused on the preparation and characterization methods as well as the application in environmental remediation of LMWC. The three main methods of LMWC preparation including chemical, physical and enzymatic methods were summarized and compared in this paper. The mechanism, advantages and disadvantages of various preparation methods were also discussed. In addition, the applications of LMWC in environmental fields such as water treatment, soil remediation and air purification were briefly reviewed. With the continuous progress of science and technology and the improvement of environmental awareness, it is believed that more efficient, economical and environmentally friendly chitosan degradation methods will be developed, providing strong support for the wide application of LMWC in the field of environmental protection.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42834-024-00236-8ChitosanDegradationLow molecular weightEnvironmental remediation
spellingShingle Yaolan Niu
Wei Hu
Preparation, characterization and application in environmental protection of low-molecular-weight chitosan: a review
Sustainable Environment Research
Chitosan
Degradation
Low molecular weight
Environmental remediation
title Preparation, characterization and application in environmental protection of low-molecular-weight chitosan: a review
title_full Preparation, characterization and application in environmental protection of low-molecular-weight chitosan: a review
title_fullStr Preparation, characterization and application in environmental protection of low-molecular-weight chitosan: a review
title_full_unstemmed Preparation, characterization and application in environmental protection of low-molecular-weight chitosan: a review
title_short Preparation, characterization and application in environmental protection of low-molecular-weight chitosan: a review
title_sort preparation characterization and application in environmental protection of low molecular weight chitosan a review
topic Chitosan
Degradation
Low molecular weight
Environmental remediation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s42834-024-00236-8
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