CARBOXYMETHYL CHITOSAN: PREPARATION AND APPLICATION IN ANTIMICROBIAL PAPER

To prepare good O-Carboxymethyl chitosan, chitosan water-solubility was modified with monochloroacetic acid in the alkaline condition. The structure of CMCS was characterized by FT IR, and it was proved that substitution reaction mainly occurred on the C(6)-O element. The antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, and A. niger was studied by bacterial reduction and optical density method. The preparation method (addition in pulp, dispersion coating and insufflation) of antimicrobial paper containing CMCS was also taken into consideration, and the antimicrobial activity of the paper was tested by the inhibition zone method.