Radiation degradation studies of carrageenans

The radiation degradation yield (Gd) of kappa, iota and lambda carrageenans was compared in solid and in 1% aqueous solution in air at ambient temperature. Gds obtained in solid and aqueous form did not vary with the different types of carrageenan.The chemical structural changes of carrageenans were accompanied by appearance of UV absorbance peak at 260 nm and a characteristic FT-IR band at 1728 cm−1. Changes in the FT-IR finger print regions were observed at high doses of the aqueous solution.Radiation-induced desulfation increased the acidity of the carrageenans. The number of reducing end groups increased with dose with greater susceptibility in κ-carrageenan.