PROCESS FOR PREPARING CHITOSAN PARTICLES

摘要

Disclosed is a process for producing particles of the modified carbohydrate polymer chitosan. Such chitosan particles are "activated" as a consequence o f the specific steps used in the process. The process involves precipitation o f dissolved chitosan from an acid solution thereof by the step-wise addition o f neutralizing agent to the solution. A partial neutralization is carried out under shear agitation to form a continuous gel phase having a pH within the range of 5.0 to 6.9. This partially neutralized chitosan gel phase is then further subjected to shear agitation for at least 10 seconds to homogenize t he gel phase. The homogenized gel phase is then further neutralized under shear agitation to a pH of above 6.9 to form a gel-like suspension of discrete chitosan particles. Chitosan particles in this form are useful in a number o f contexts including, in particular, in the area of plant care.