Spectroscopic Analyses of Cellulose and Chitosan: FTIR and Modeling Approach

The FTIR of standard cellulose and chitosan was studied. Furthermore, quantum mechanical PM3 method was used to study cellulose and chitosan up to 8 units. A change in the calculated total dipole moment and HOMO/LUMO energy suggested that cellulose/chitosan blends are more reactive. The reactivity increased as a result of introducing TiO2 and ZnO into the blend. A splitting in the OH stretching of cellulose; while a broadening in CH is regarded as a result of increasing cellulose units. Another broadening is observed in the C CH and C CO bands around 1300 cm(-1). Chitosan shows a new CH band as a result of increasing its units.