The reaction of epichlorohydrin with maltodextrins has been studied using n
ovel methods for determining free glycerol and glycerol monoethers. Glycero
l is determined by enzymatic analysis and glycerol monoethers by a modified
oxidative method involving the HPLC separation and the determination of fo
rmaldehyde as the 2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazone derivative. Chloride is determ
ined by a standard gravimetric; assay involving silver precipitation. These
methods permit the deduction of the overall yield of grafting and the degr
ee of cross-linking in the crude reaction medium with no need for further p
urification thus allowing the study of the reaction of epichlorohydrin with
polysaccharides other than high molecular weight starch or dextrans. Other
reaction intermediates such as chloropropanediol and glycidol can also be
concluded to be produced, based on the kinetics of the hydrolysis reaction.
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