Polysaccharides with Carboxyl Groups

H-bridges. However, a divalent cation is needed to achieve gel setting in a neutral solution. 

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Polysaccharides with strongly acidic residues, present as esters along the polymer chains (sulfuric, phosphoric acids, as in furcellaran, carrageenan or modified starch), are also very soluble in water and form highly viscous solutions. Unlike polysaccharides with carboxyl groups, in strongly acidic media these solutions are distinctly stable. 

A unique type of corrosion referred to as copper by-product release, cuprosolvency, or blue water occurs in potable water systems constructed of copper tubing, and has been reported worldwide [92-95]. The problem is most often attributed to EPS induced metal concentration cells. The condition is characterized by the release of copper as fine particles in plumbing systems distributing soft water in the neutral or neutral-alkaline pH range. Water may contain between 5 to 300 ppm copper (as Cu +) as finely suspended precipitates. A bacterial biofilm and associated acidic EPS bind copper ions at the metal surface and alter the porosity of the oxide film [96]. Geesey and coworkers [97] characterized binding of an acidic polysaccharide to thin copper films and su ested a cupric ion interaction with carboxyl groups on EPS. These interactions promoted ionization of metallic... 

Native polysaccharides with acid groups other than the uronic type are not very common except for the sulfate esters. Total acidity may be estimated by direct titration, but erroneous results are obtained if the polysaccharide is alkali-labile as is the case with many oxidized polysaccharides. Addition of calcium acetate (7, 8) or sodium bromide 8, 9) to the polysaccharide solution increases the accuracy of the titration. Other methods for the estimation of carboxyl and other acidic groups involve determination of the amount of methylene blue absorbed, or determination of the amount of silver salt formed by exchange from a solution which contains silver in combination with a very weak acid. The sulfate content of polysaccharide sulfates, such as agar, is obtained by ordinary sulfate analysis of the completely hydrolyzed or ashed polysaccharide. 

Polysaccharides containing carboxyl groups, such as chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, are derivatized with cysteine methyl ester by substituting carboxyl groups of polysaccharides and subsequently cross-linked by mild oxidation to form hydrogels. IPNs and semi-lPNs can also be degraded from backbone. 

Notwithstanding the chemical differences (alcohol groups in guaran, carboxyl groups in xanthan, and partially esterified carboxyl groups in pectin) these three polysaccharides in combination with chitosan in the microspheres appear to be able to bring chitosan into solution. This is particularly interesting if one considers the solubility of these three polysaccharides in water and their important applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. 

The FTIR spectra of citrus pectin and wheat straw XRPP (Figure 1) appeared to be similar. Both of the spectra have absorptions at 1740, 1608, 1430, 1360, 1244, 1080, 1060, 1035, 890 and 524 cm. The pectic substances belong to a class of carboxy poly saccharides which differ from neutral polysaccharides, with an intense band in the region 1740 cm l (for salts 1608 cm ) related to vibrations of the carboxyl group... 

Carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol Combination of a cellulose ether with clay Amide-modified carboxyl-containing polysaccharide Sodium aluminate and magnesium oxide Thermally stable hydroxyethylcellulose 30% ammonium or sodium thiosulfate and 20% hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) Acrylic acid copolymer and oxyalkylene with hydrophobic group Copolymers acrylamide-acrylate and vinyl sulfonate-vinylamide Cationic polygalactomannans and anionic xanthan gum Copolymer from vinyl urethanes and acrylic acid or alkyl acrylates 2-Nitroalkyl ether-modified starch Polymer of glucuronic acid... 

Ester formation from polysaccharides can be achieved in several ways First by acylation of the OH groups with carboxylic or sulfonic acid azolides, second by converting the OH groups with imidazole carboxylates into carbonates, and third by reaction of an acid leash on the polysaccharide with an alcohol by means of CDI or analogous azolides. The acid leash might, for example, be a succinate attached to the polysaccharide. 

As with fullerenes, carbon nanotubes are also hydrophobic and must be made soluble for suspension in aqueous media. Nanotubes are commonly functionalized to make them water soluble although they can also be non-covalently wrapped with polymers, polysaccharides, surfactants, and DNA to aid in solubilization (Casey et al., 2005 Kam et al., 2005 Sinani et al., 2005 Torti et al., 2007). Functionalization usually begins by formation of carboxylic acid groups on the exterior of the nanotubes by oxidative treatments such as sonication in acids, followed by secondary chemical reactions to attach functional molecules to the carboxyl groups. For example, polyethylene glycol has been attached to SWNT to aid in solubility (Zhao et al., 2005). DNA has also been added onto SWNT for efficient delivery into cells (Kam et al., 2005). 

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