Synthesis and characterization of water-soluble chitosan derivate and its antibacterial activity

Ethylamine hydroxyethyl chitosan (EHCs) was synthesized from chitosan and chloroethylamine hydrochloride under alkali condition by the novel method described in this study. The effect of several factors, such as reaction time, temperature and the molar ratio of hydroxyethylic chitosan (HECs) to chloroethylamine hydrochloride were discussed. The structure changes of derivative were investigated by FTIR, 13C NMR, DSC and TGA analysis. Good water solubility of EHCs was observed in a wide range of molecular weights. Antibacterial activities of derivative against Escherichia coli (E. coli) was explored by the optical density method.