DEGRADATION OFSODIUMALGINATE BYLOWENERGYELECTRON BEAM

Tita Puspitasari (Center for Research and Development of Isotopes and Radiation Technology - BATAN P.O. BOX 7010 JKSKL, Jakarta 12070 Indonesia)
Naotsugu Nagasawa (Takasaki Radiation Chemistry Research Establishment - JAERI Watanuki, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292 Japan)
Toshiaki Yagi (Takasaki Radiation Chemistry Research Establishment - JAERI Watanuki, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292 Japan)
Fumio Yoshii (Takasaki Radiation Chemistry Research Establishment - JAERI Watanuki, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292 Japan)

Jurnal Sains Materi Indonesia
EDISI KHUSUS: OKTOBER 2006

DEGRADATION OFSODIUMALGINATE BYLOWENERGYELECTRON BEAM. High viscosity (HV) and low viscosity (LV) alginate prepared in 5% solutions were irradiated by low energy electron beam (LEEB) at 55oC and ambient temperature respectively. Oligoalginates with molecular weight lower than 20,000 Da and broad molecular weight distribution were obtained until 60 minutes of irradiation. The decrease in molecular weight was accompanied by appearance of UV absorbance peak at 265 nm. LV alginate was preferable to use as raw material for LEEB irradiation process than HV alginate.