Comparative studies and correlation between physicochemical and functional properties of chitosan from marine sources

Chitosan, a natural biopolymer has received much attention as a functional biopolymer due to numerous applications in medicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, functional foods, environment protection, agriculture and cosmetics sector. Six different chitosan extracted from marine sources using different methods were characterized. The physicochemical parameters of chitosan: molecular weight, solubility, nitrogen, degree of acetylation, bulk density, ash content, insoluble matter and intrinsic viscosity along with their functional properties: moisture, water and fat binding capacities were analyzed. The correlation between physicochemical and functional properties were evaluated effectively to utilize chitosan as a functional ingredient in various commercial applications. Chitosan differed in physicochemical and functional properties depending upon source and method of extraction. Significant positive correlations were observedbetween fat binding capacity and bulk density while negative correlations between water binding capacity and bulk density. In addition moisture content had positive correlation with insoluble matter.