This seminar aims to deliberate on the preparation, characterization and applications of chitosan and guar gum based new materials. Chitosan is a random copolymer of β-(1→4)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and β-(1→4)-D-glucosamine. It is a deacetylated derivative of the second most abundant natural polymer, chitin.1 Guar gum is a high molecular weight polysaccharide, derived from the endosperm of the cluster beans and made up of galactose and mannose repeating units.2 The main chain consists of (1→4)-linked β-D-mannopyranosyl units while the (1→6)-linked α-D-galactopyranosyl residues are present as pendent groups.3 Earlier, we reported on the preparation of tough gels of chitosan with tartaric acid and urea4, and in that direction, the synthesis and characterization of chitosan-based material (CHMAUR) of different forms (foam, porous and non-porous tough gels, and porous dry product) prepared through crosslinking, facilitated by urea (UR) and malic acid (MA) was explored. The application of the new material towards absorption of water, support of compressive load and machinability (drilling and sawing) shall be presented. The synthesis and characterization of porous material of chitosan, glutaric acid (GA) and urea (CHGAUR) of three different forms soft wet foam (SWF), hard wet foam (HWF) and porous dry product (PDP) was also undertaken and the results from this study shall be presented. The SWF was tested for agricultural applications. Then the synthesis and characterization of composite films based on chitosan, guar gum and tannic acid prepared using solution-casting method shall be presented. These films were permeable to moisture and showed hydrophobic character. Tannic acid crosslinked films showed antioxidant activity making these films suitable for use as food packaging material.
References:
1 M. Rinaudo, Prog. Polym. Sci., 2006, 31, 603–632.
2 D. Mudgil, S. Barak and B. Singh Khatkar, J Food Sci Technol, 2014, 51, 409–418.
3 A. George, P. A. Shah and P. S. Shrivastav, Eur. Polym. J., 2019, 112, 722–735.
4 E. Sangeetha, R. Sharma, A. Narayanan, S. Varadaraj and R. Dhamodharan, ACS Appl. Polym. Mater., 2022, 4, 1764–1774.