Studies on the surface activity properties of a new type of amphiphilic chitosan derivative

A new type of amphiphilic derivative of carboxymethylchitosan (CMCHS) was p repared by reaction of CMCHS with p-nonylphenyl glycidyl ether, The structu re of the resulting derivatives, i.e., ( 2-hydroxyl-3-p-nonylphenoxy) propy l-carboxy-methylchitosan (HNP-CMCHS) had been identified by UV and IR spect roscopy. They are water-soluble and have surface activity, which is related to the degree of substitution and the added electrolyte in the solution; I n the presence of NaCl, two transitions appeared on the surface tension-con centration plots, that means the possibility of the formation of intramolec ular micelle. It was also found that it need a long time for the surface te nsion of the derivative solutions to get a equilibrium value and the time i s related to the derivative concentration, degree of substitution and added electrolyte of the solution.