Determination of chitosan in wood and water samples by acidic hydrolysis and liquid chromatography with online fluorescence derivatization

In recent years chitosans have been investigated as a natural chemical for wood preservation against fungal decay, and chitosan in aqueous solutions has been used in impregnation studies. To evaluate the retention of chitosan after an impregnation process and to evaluate the fixation of chitosan in wood a method for determination of chitosan in wood and water samples has been developed based on acidic hydrolysis of chitosan to glucosamine followed by online derivatization by o-phthalaldehyde, chromatographic separation and fluorescent detection. For wood samples the method was linear up to 45 mg g−1 chitosan in wood and had a recovery of 86%. The yield of chitosan in water was 87% at 1% (w/v) concentration.