Complex formation of sodium alkyl sulfates with chitosan in aqueous-ethanol solutions

The influence of the length of the hydrocarbon radical in sodium alkyl sulfates and of the solvent composition on the formation of polymer-colloid complexes with chitosan in aqueous-ethanol solution was studied. The critical association constants, binding cooperativity parameters, and dissociation constants of the complexes were determined. An increase in the length of the alkyl radical leads to enhancement of the association of sodium alkyl sulfates with chitosan at an ethanol concentration in solution of up to 30 vol %. In solutions with higher ethanol concentrations, the solvent composition becomes the decisive factor of the complex formation of chitosan with sodium alkyl sulfate.