Effects of ultrasound on molecular properties, structure, chain conformation and degradation kinetics of carboxylic curdlan

• Ultrasound was used for the degradation of aqueous carboxylic curdlan (Cc).
• The [η] and Mw of Cc decreased obviously after ultrasound treatment.
• The Rg of Cc firstly increased and then decreased as the ultrasonic time prolonged.
• The compact random coil chains became more flexible and extended after ultrasound.
• Ultrasound can be used as a simple and effective method to modify the polysaccharides.

In this study, high-intensity ultrasound (20 kHz), a simple, effective and without any additive method, was used to the degradation of carboxylic curdlan (Cc) produced by 4-acetamido-TEMPO-mediated oxidation. The effects of ultrasound on molecular properties, structure and chain conformations of Cc were investigated by viscometry, size-exclusion chromatography with multiangle laser-light scattering (SEC–MALLS) analysis, as well as FTIR and NMR spectroscopies. The results indicated that the intrinsic viscosity [η] and the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of Cc decreased obviously after ultrasound, and a uniform and narrow distribution of degradation product was obtained. The z-average radius of gyrations (Rg) firstly increased and then decreased as the sonication time prolonged. Ultrasound destroyed the hydrogen bonds resulting in the transition from compact random coil conformation to more flexible and even shorter extended chains. Ultrasonic treatment could not alter the primary chemical structure of Cc molecules according to the structural analysis by FTIR and NMR spectroscopies. Degradation kinetics based on Schmid model was applied to estimate the degradation rate constant k. It was found that the k value of Cc decreased with increasing the polymer concentration from 0.05 to 0.2% (w/v).