Study on antibacterial activity of O-carboxymethyl chitosan sodium salt and spinnability of O-carboxymethyl chitosan sodium salt/cellulose polyblends in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide system

► NaCMCh with Mn ranging from 8 × 103 to 2.7 × 105 can be soluble in NMMO/H2O. ► NaCMCh with Mn of 1.9 × 105 had the best antibacterial activity. ► The addition of NaCMCh improved the spinnability of cellulose NMMO/H2O solution. ► The antibacterial lyocell fibers with NaCMCh were successfully spun in NMMO system.